#does magic work

Hello beautiful souls ✨

Let's talk about something most witchcraft books pretend doesn't happen: spells fail.

Sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes the opposite of what you wanted happens. Sometimes you get results, but not the ones you asked for. And sometimes you get exactly what you wanted, but it ruins everything.

The Instagram witches won't tell you this. The books act like "belief + ingredients + words = guaranteed results." But anyone who's actually practiced knows: magic is not a vending machine.

So why do some spells work while others fall flat? Today we're troubleshooting the most common failure points—and how to fix them.

This isn't about "you didn't believe hard enough." This is practical diagnosis of where your magic breaks down and how to make it work better.

THE DIAGNOSTIC FRAMEWORK

When a spell fails, the problem is usually in one of seven areas:

Intention (unclear, conflicting, or misaligned)

Energy (not raised, not directed, not released)

Timing (wrong phase, rushed, or forcing)

Method (wrong technique for the goal)

Interference (internal or external blocks)

Follow-through (magical work without mundane action)

Outcome (it worked, just not how you expected)

Let's break down each one.

FAILURE POINT 1: INTENTION PROBLEMS

Your intention is the foundation. If it's weak, vague, or conflicting, everything built on it collapses.

SYMPTOM: Nothing happens. At all.

The spell lands like a stone in water. No ripples. No response. Total silence.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

Your intention was too vague. "I want love" is a category, not an intention. Love from whom? What kind? Romantic? Familial? Self-love? Friendly? The universe needs specifics.

Example of vague vs. clear:

Vague: "I want to be happy"

Clear: "I experience daily joy in my body and find meaning in my work"

You didn't actually want the outcome. Consciously you said yes. Subconsciously you said no. Your subconscious wins every time.

Example: You cast a spell for a promotion, but secretly you're terrified of more responsibility. Your subconscious sabotages the spell.

Your intention conflicted with your values. You cast a love spell on a specific person (violates their free will), but you value consent. Your own ethics undermine the working.

You copied someone else's intention without making it yours. You used a spell from a book word-for-word, but the words didn't resonate with your actual need. Empty words = empty results.

THE FIX:

Get brutally specific. Write out exactly what you want. Read it aloud. Does it feel true in your body? If not, refine.

Check for internal conflict. Journal: "What scares me about getting this? What would I have to give up? What would change?"

If the fear is bigger than the desire, address the fear first.

Make intentions yours. Rewrite spell words in your own voice. If a phrase feels hollow, change it until it feels alive.

State intention in present tense, positive language.

Not: "I don't want to be poor"

Yes: "Money flows easily to me"

FAILURE POINT 2: ENERGY PROBLEMS

Energy is the force behind magic. Without it, you're just performing theater.

SYMPTOM: The spell felt empty or you felt nothing during casting.

You went through the motions. You said the words. You lit the candle. But there was no feeling, no shift, no sense that anything actually happened.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

You didn't raise energy. You jumped straight to the spell without building power. Magic requires fuel. If you didn't generate it, nothing moves.

You raised energy but didn't direct it. You got worked up (dancing, chanting, emotion) but didn't focus that energy toward your intention. It just dissipated into the air.

You directed but didn't release. You raised, focused, but held on too tight. The energy has nowhere to go, so it circles back to you. You're exhausted but nothing manifested.

You released too early. You let go before the energy was fully charged. Weak spell = weak results.

You didn't ground afterward. You sent energy out but didn't close the circuit. Now you're jittery, anxious, or drained.

THE FIX:

Always raise energy before casting. Methods:

Dance until you're breathless

Drum/chant until you enter trance

Breathwork (rapid breathing until shift)

Build emotion (joy, rage, desire, grief—whatever's authentic)

Physical exertion (push-ups, running in place)

You should FEEL the energy build. Tingling, heat, pressure, vibration—something physical.

Direct clearly. Visualize the energy moving from you toward your goal. See it as light, color, sensation—whatever works for you.

Release completely. Physical gesture: throw hands forward, clap, exhale forcefully. Verbal: "It is done." Then STOP thinking about it.

Ground immediately.

Eat something

Touch earth/floor

Visualize roots pulling excess energy down

Drink water

FAILURE POINT 3: TIMING PROBLEMS

Magic works with natural rhythms. Fight them and you fight yourself.

SYMPTOM: You got minor results or everything felt like pushing a boulder uphill.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

You cast during the wrong moon phase. Growth spell during waning moon = fighting natural energy. Release spell during waxing moon = same problem.

You're trying to force timing. You need results by Friday but the energy isn't ripe yet. You're micromanaging the universe.

You cast too soon. You didn't let the previous working complete before starting a new one. You're layering spells on top of each other, creating interference.

You waited too long. The window of opportunity passed. The energy shifted. Now you're working with what was, not what is.

Planetary timing was off. Some traditions care deeply about planetary hours and days. If you're working in that system, wrong timing = wrong energy.

THE FIX:

Learn moon phases and use them:

New Moon: Beginnings, intentions, planting seeds

Waxing: Growth, building, increasing

Full Moon: Peak power, completion, revelation

Waning: Release, banishing, decreasing

Dark Moon: Rest, shadow work, endings

Let spells breathe. Give each working at least one full moon cycle before casting another on the same topic. Magic needs time to unfold.

Trust divine timing. You set the intention. The universe handles the when. Stop micromanaging.

Use planetary timing if it matters to you:

Sunday/Sun: Success, vitality, leadership

Monday/Moon: Emotions, intuition, home

Tuesday/Mars: Courage, conflict, passion

Wednesday/Mercury: Communication, travel, learning

Thursday/Jupiter: Abundance, expansion, luck

Friday/Venus: Love, beauty, pleasure

Saturday/Saturn: Boundaries, banishing, binding

Or ignore this entirely. Not everyone works with planetary timing. Find what resonates.

FAILURE POINT 4: METHOD PROBLEMS

Different goals require different techniques. Using the wrong method is like trying to cut down a tree with a spoon.

SYMPTOM: Repeated failures with the same method, or results feel forced/unnatural.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

You used sympathetic magic when you needed contagious. Example: Using a pink candle for love (sympathetic) when you should have been working with a direct connection to a specific person (contagious).

You tried to influence someone without a taglock. Long-distance influence on a specific person rarely works without their hair, photo, or something they touched. You need contagious magic, but you only used symbolic.

You used complex ritual when simple would work better. You did a three-hour ceremony with 47 ingredients when a 5-minute candle spell would have been more focused and powerful.

You used someone else's method that doesn't match your energy. You're a kitchen witch trying to do ceremonial magic. Or a chaos magician trying to work with traditional Wiccan ritual. The method doesn't fit your signature.

You mixed incompatible systems. You called on Greek gods, used Norse runes, burned sage (Indigenous practice), and did chakra work (Hindu/Buddhist)—all in one spell. This is spiritual appropriation AND confused energy.

THE FIX:

Match method to goal:

Attracting something: Sympathetic magic (symbols, candles, attraction)

Influencing specific person: Contagious magic (with taglock and consent considerations)

Personal transformation: Sigil work or deep ritual

Quick results: Fire magic, simple focused spells

Long-term change: Sustained practice, earth magic

Simplify. More ingredients ≠ more power. Clear intention + focused energy > elaborate ritual.

Find your signature method. What comes naturally? Candles? Jars? Drawing? Dancing? Kitchen magic? Do that. Master one method before adding others.

Stay within one cultural system per working. Don't mix pantheons or closed practices. Pick Greek OR Norse OR your own gnosis. Mixing dilutes and disrespects.

FAILURE POINT 5: INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS

Something is blocking the magic—either inside you or from outside.

SYMPTOM: Spell seems to work initially, then collapses. Or immediate backfire/opposition.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

Internal interference (your own blocks):

Self-worth issues: You don't believe you deserve what you asked for

Fear of change: Getting what you want means life changes, and that's scary

Guilt: You feel bad for doing magic (religious programming, etc.)

Doubt: You cast, then immediately started questioning if it would work

Attachment: You're obsessively checking for results, which calls energy back

External interference:

Someone else's magic: They're working counter to your goal (rival spell, protection ward, etc.)

Strong ward/protection: The target has magical protection you didn't account for

Spiritual opposition: Entities, spirits, or ancestors that don't want this outcome

Mundane obstacles: Real-world blocks you didn't address (legal, financial, physical)

THE FIX:

Internal blocks:

Do shadow work BEFORE the spell. Journal: "What would I lose if I got this? Who would I become? What am I afraid of?"

Address the block, THEN cast.

Release doubt. After casting, distract yourself completely. Watch TV. Clean. Read. Physical activity. Give your subconscious space to work without conscious interference.

Work on self-worth. If you don't believe you deserve it, no spell will override that. Therapy, mirror work, affirmations—whatever helps you believe you're worthy.

External blocks:

Assess opposition. Divination: Is someone working against this? Is there protection in place? Should you proceed?

Add protection to your spell. Ward yourself. Shield your working. Ask for assistance from allies (deity, ancestors, spirit guides).

Address mundane obstacles. You can't out-spell a restraining order, debt, or physical distance. Magic + mundane action = results.

Strengthen your working. If you hit resistance, you may need more power. Repeated workings, stronger energy raising, assistance from entities.

FAILURE POINT 6: FOLLOW-THROUGH PROBLEMS

Magic opens doors. You still have to walk through them.

SYMPTOM: Opportunities appeared but nothing manifested. Or spell "worked" but you're not satisfied.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

You didn't take mundane action. You did a job spell but didn't apply anywhere. You did a love spell but never left your house. Magic can't manifest if you give it nothing to work with.

You missed the opportunities. The universe sent openings and you ignored them because they didn't look like you expected.

Example: You wanted love, and someone interesting started talking to you at the coffee shop. But they weren't your "type," so you dismissed them. That WAS the spell working.

You self-sabotaged when opportunities appeared. You got the interview, showed up late. You met someone great, immediately pushed them away. You received money, spent it on something destructive.

You didn't maintain the energy. You cast once, got some movement, then stopped all effort. Magic requires sustained effort, not one-time casting.

THE FIX:

Do the spell, then do the work.

Job spell? Update resume, apply to positions, network.

Love spell? Go places, be open, say yes to invitations.

Money spell? Look for opportunities, side hustles, ways to increase income.

Stay alert for unexpected paths. The universe is more creative than your conscious mind. The answer might come from a direction you never considered.

Say YES to weird opportunities. If something feels aligned (even if unexpected), try it. That might be the spell manifesting.

Sustain the practice. Do weekly or monthly follow-up workings. Keep energy flowing toward goal. One spell is a shout. Sustained practice is a conversation.

Get support for self-sabotage. If you consistently destroy good things when they appear, that's trauma response. Therapy helps. Shadow work helps. Acknowledge the pattern.

FAILURE POINT 7: THE SPELL WORKED, JUST NOT HOW YOU EXPECTED

This is the trickiest one. Sometimes the spell succeeds brilliantly—but you don't recognize it.

SYMPTOM: "Nothing happened" but your life shifted in unexpected ways.

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

You got what you NEEDED, not what you WANTED. You asked for a specific job. Instead, you got laid off—which forced you into a career change that's now much better. The spell worked. You just didn't see it at first.

The spell manifested symbolically or internally first. You did a prosperity spell. Your bank account didn't change, but you suddenly feel abundant. You're generous. You trust. That internal shift IS the manifestation. External follows.

Timing is slower than expected. You wanted results in a week. The spell takes three months to fully manifest. You gave up too soon.

The spell protected you from something worse. You cast for a relationship. Nothing happened. Later you learned that person was toxic. The spell's "failure" was actually success—it kept you safe.

The universe is rerouting. Your request would have led somewhere harmful. The spell is redirecting toward a better outcome. It looks like failure. It's not.

THE FIX:

Check back in 3, 6, 9 months. Keep a spell journal. Note what you cast and when. Check back later to see if things manifested in unexpected ways.

Look for symbolic/internal shifts. Did your mindset change? Your confidence? Your openness? That IS magic working.

Trust the redirects. If a door closes hard, maybe it was the wrong door. Watch for what opens instead.

Ask in divination. "Did this spell work? If yes, how? If no, why not?" Let the cards/pendulum/whatever show you what you missed.

Refine and recast. If enough time has passed (full moon cycle minimum), assess what you learned and cast again with better clarity.

ADVANCED TROUBLESHOOTING: WHEN EVERYTHING FAILS

You've checked all seven points. You've refined. You've tried again. Still nothing.

POSSIBLE REASONS:

The goal isn't meant for you (right now or ever). Some things aren't in your path. Some lessons require the absence of what you want. Sometimes "no" is the answer.

You're being tested. Some deities, some paths, some initiations require you to face failure. To sit with wanting and not having. To develop patience, humility, or trust.

There's a bigger pattern you can't see. You're one thread in a larger tapestry. Your spell might conflict with someone else's path, a larger plan, or timing beyond your awareness.

You need to develop a skill first. The universe is saying "not until you learn X." Maybe you need boundaries before you can have healthy love. Maybe you need financial literacy before wealth. The block is protective.

It's actually working, but you won't see it for years. Some spells are slow burns. Especially transformation work. You might not recognize the results until you look back much later.

WHAT TO DO:

Surrender. Not giving up—surrendering. "I've done the work. I trust the outcome, whatever it is."

Ask what you're supposed to learn from this failure. The lesson might BE the goal.

Work on yourself instead of the outcome. Stop trying to manifest the thing. Become the person who naturally has that thing.

Get divination from someone else. Outside perspective. What are you missing? What's the block? Should you continue or release?

Take a complete break. Stop all magic on this topic for at least one moon cycle. Give the universe space. Give yourself space.

THE SPELL SUCCESS CHECKLIST

Before you cast, run through this:

☐ Intention is clear, specific, and truly mine

☐ I've checked for internal conflict

☐ I know which method matches this goal

☐ Timing is aligned (moon phase, my readiness)

☐ I have a plan to raise sufficient energy

☐ I know how I'll direct and release

☐ I have a grounding plan

☐ I've addressed known blocks (internal and external)

☐ I'm prepared to take mundane action

☐ I'm willing to accept unexpected manifestations

☐ I'm ready to wait for right timing

☐ I'm prepared to surrender if this isn't meant for me

If you can check all these, your spell has much higher success rate.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Spells fail for reasons. Understanding those reasons gives you diagnostic power.

Next time a spell doesn't work, don't just feel defeated. Troubleshoot:

Was my intention clear?

Did I actually raise and direct energy?

Was timing right?

Did I use the right method?

What was interfering?

Did I take mundane action?

Did it actually work in a way I didn't recognize?

Magic isn't mystical luck. It's a skill. And like any skill, you improve by understanding what went wrong and adjusting.

The witches who look like they never fail? They've failed hundreds of times. They've just learned from each failure and gotten better.

Failure is data. Use it.

YOUR TURN

What spell has failed for you repeatedly?

Looking at this framework, where do you think the breakdown is?

Have you had a spell that "failed" but looking back, it actually worked perfectly?

Let's troubleshoot together. Your failed spell might be the lesson someone else needs.

Blessed be 🔧

Is magick real? Does it work?

Let us begin by stating that we spell ‘magick’ with a K to distinguish it from stage magic – the stuff onstage with rabbits in hats and card tricks.

It is not uncommon for someone who is Brand New to All This to approach our counter with a skeptical smile and ask, ‘Is magick real? Does it work?’ Well, yes and yes. With conditions.

Magick is similar to prayer, but more focused, and it’s active, not passive. It’s prayer assisted by your actions, it’s not making a request and then sitting back and waiting. It’s intention, will, belief. It’s creating energy. What you get out of it depends on how much you put into it. Your intention is what results you want from the spell; your will feeds it and gives it energy. It’s also about your attitude – do you believe it’ll work? If you don’t really believe it will work, or if you have doubts, then chances are good it won’t.

Also, you have to do your part to help it work. If you do a spell to find a job, you still need to submit applications and go to interviews. If you do a spell for love, you still need to go places and meet people. You need to do what you can to make conditions favorable for the spell to work. This is what we mean by magick being active, not passive.

It’s like the old joke where the man prays every day to win the lottery, but it never happens. He keeps praying more and more fervently, until one day, a voice booms down from the heavens: ‘Meet me halfway, buy a ticket!’ You need to meet the magick halfway. It might take some practice, and it’ll definitely take some work and concentration, but the results are worth it.

Hello beautiful souls ✨

Most magic falls into one of three categories—even if you don't know the names.

When you light a green candle for money, you're using sympathetic magic.

When you tie someone's hair into a spell, you're using contagious magic.

When you draw a symbol and charge it with intention, you're using sigil magic.

These aren't traditions or paths. They're technologies—fundamental mechanisms through which magic operates. Understanding the difference helps you:

Choose the right method for your goal

Troubleshoot when spells fail

Build spells from scratch without recipes

Understand why certain ingredients "work"

Today we're breaking down all three, how they function, and how to use them effectively.

SYMPATHETIC MAGIC: Like Attracts Like

THE PRINCIPLE:

Things that resemble each other are connected. By affecting the symbol, you affect the reality it represents.

Also called: The Law of Similarity

The logic: If X looks like Y, acts like Y, or symbolizes Y, then magic performed on X will influence Y.

EXAMPLES IN PRACTICE:

Poppet/Doll Magic You create a doll to represent a person. Whatever you do to the doll affects the person.

Stick pins in it for harm (or healing)

Dress it in their colors

Name it after them

The doll is them symbolically

Candle Magic You burn a green candle for money because green = money in your cultural association. The candle represents wealth, so burning it "activates" wealth in your life.

Color Correspondences Red for passion, blue for peace, black for protection—all sympathetic magic. The color symbolizes the quality, so using the color invokes the quality.

Image Magic You print someone's photo and burn it to remove them from your life. The image represents them, so destroying the image symbolically destroys their influence.

Plant Magic (Doctrine of Signatures) A plant that looks like a body part treats that body part. Walnuts (look like brains) for mental clarity. Ginger root (looks like intestines) for digestion. This is ancient sympathetic magic.

WHY IT WORKS:

Psychologically: Your subconscious thinks in symbols. When you work with a symbol, your mind accepts it as real and responds accordingly.

Metaphysically: The universe recognizes similarity as connection. Energy follows symbolic pathways.

Practically: You're creating a physical anchor for abstract intentions, making them concrete and actionable.

HOW TO USE IT:

Identify what you want to influence (a person, a situation, a quality)

Find or create a symbol that represents it (doll, candle, drawing, object)

Treat the symbol as if it IS the thing (not represents—IS)

Perform your magic on the symbol (charging, transforming, destroying, empowering)

Trust the connection (doubt breaks the symbolic link)

COMMON MISTAKES:

The symbol is too vague. A pink candle for "love" is generic. A pink candle carved with initials, anointed with rose oil, and charged with specific intention is targeted.

You don't fully believe in the connection. If you're treating the doll like "just a craft project," it won't work. You have to feel the symbolic link.

You break the connection prematurely. You do a cord-cutting spell (cutting thread between two poppets) but then immediately text the person. The symbolic action must be supported by real-world follow-through.

STRENGTHS:

Accessible (easy to find symbols)

Flexible (can symbolize almost anything)

Psychologically powerful (subconscious responds well)

LIMITATIONS:

Requires strong visualization and belief

Cultural correspondence differences (green = money in US, might mean something else elsewhere)

Can feel indirect

CONTAGIOUS MAGIC: Once Connected, Always Connected

THE PRINCIPLE:

Things that were once in contact remain connected, even when separated. By affecting the part, you affect the whole.

Also called: The Law of Contagion

The logic: If X was once part of Y or touched Y, X retains a connection to Y forever. Magic performed on X will reach Y through that connection.

EXAMPLES IN PRACTICE:

Hair/Nail Magic You use someone's hair in a spell. The hair was part of them, so it still carries their essence. Work done on the hair affects the person.

Blood Magic Your blood in a spell creates a permanent connection. That's why blood magic is considered binding and dangerous—the connection can't easily be severed.

Photo Magic (Advanced) Not just any photo—a photo they owned, touched, or that contains their energy. The physical object absorbed their essence through contact.

Clothing/Personal Items Their worn shirt, their jewelry, their handwriting—anything they touched regularly carries their energy. Using it in magic creates a direct line to them.

Taglock Magic Any biological material (spit, sweat, skin cells, menstrual blood, semen) creates a powerful link. This is why you don't leave these things where enemies can find them.

Footprint/Track Magic Dirt from their footprint connects to them. Some traditions gather this to work magic on a person without their knowledge.

WHY IT WORKS:

Energetically: Physical contact leaves an energetic imprint. That imprint remains even when the objects separate.

Biologically: DNA and biological material are the person on a cellular level. The connection is literal, not just symbolic.

Metaphysically: The universe doesn't recognize separation the way we do. What was once joined remains entangled.

HOW TO USE IT:

Obtain a taglock (personal item, biological material, something they owned/touched)

Cleanse yourself and your space (you're working with direct connection—be protected)

Treat the taglock as a literal link to the person (not a symbol—an extension of them)

Perform magic on/with the taglock (binding, healing, influence, communication)

Dispose of properly afterward (burn, bury, return to nature—don't leave it accessible)

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Contagious magic is powerful and binding. It raises serious ethical questions:

Consent: Using someone's biological material without permission is violation. Even if your intent is good (healing), you're bypassing their free will.

Permanence: These connections are hard to break. Blood bonds especially. Don't create connections you're not prepared to maintain or sever.

Vulnerability: If someone has your taglock, they can work magic on you. Protect your biological material.

Defensive practice:

Flush hair and nails

Burn used tissues

Don't leave blood anywhere

Be careful who has access to your belongings

Cleanse items before discarding them

COMMON MISTAKES:

Using a taglock from the wrong person. You grabbed a hair from the bathroom but it's your roommate's, not your target's. Now the spell affects the wrong person.

Not protecting yourself. Working with someone's biological material opens a two-way channel. If you don't shield, they can feel you working, or energy can backlash.

Underestimating the power. "It's just a strand of hair" becomes "why can't I stop thinking about this person" three months later. Contagious magic creates lasting bonds.

Illegal or unethical acquisition. Don't steal. Don't break into someone's space. Beyond ethics, the violation in the acquisition taints the magic.

STRENGTHS:

Extremely powerful

Direct connection (no middleman)

Works even if target is far away

Hard to defend against (if they don't know)

LIMITATIONS:

Requires access to personal items/biological material

Ethically fraught

Creates lasting connections (can't easily undo)

Two-way channel (affects you too)

SIGIL MAGIC: Encoding Intention Into Symbol

THE PRINCIPLE:

Intention can be compressed into a visual symbol and activated to manifest. The symbol bypasses conscious mind and speaks directly to subconscious/universe.

The logic: Words and thoughts are diffuse. Symbols are concentrated. By creating a unique glyph that represents your exact intention, you create a battery of focused will that activates when charged.

EXAMPLES IN PRACTICE:

Traditional Sigil Creation (Chaos Magic Method):

Write intention: "I WILL FIND A NEW JOB"

Remove vowels and repeated letters: W L F N D J B

Combine letters into abstract symbol

Charge through gnosis (orgasm, meditation, intense focus)

Forget the original intention (let subconscious work)

Bind Runes Norse runes combined into one symbol. Each rune has meaning; combined, they create complex intention.

Seals (Solomonic/Hermetic) Planetary seals, angelic seals, demonic seals—all are sigils connecting to specific forces.

Personal Glyphs You create a symbol that feels right for your intention, without linguistic method. Pure intuitive design.

Charging Symbols on Objects Drawing sigils on candles, doors, your body, tools. The symbol holds and radiates intention.

WHY IT WORKS:

Psychologically: Your conscious mind forgets the intention, so doubt can't interfere. Your subconscious remembers and works toward it.

Symbolically: The brain processes images faster than words. A sigil is pure concentrated meaning.

Energetically: The act of creating the sigil charges it. Further charging amplifies and releases it.

Metaphysically: The universe responds to concentrated, encrypted intention better than scattered conscious wishes.

HOW TO CREATE & USE:

METHOD 1: Letter Reduction (Chaos Magic)

State intention clearly (present tense, positive, specific)

Bad: "I don't want to be poor"

Good: "Money flows easily to me"

Remove vowels and duplicate letters

"MONEY FLOWS EASILY TO ME"

Becomes: M N Y F L W S T

Combine letters into abstract design

Stack, overlap, stylize until unrecognizable

Make it aesthetically pleasing to you

Charge the sigil

Intense focus (stare until vision shifts)

Meditation (enter gnosis, imprint symbol)

Physical energy (dancing, drumming, sex)

Emotional peak (laughter, tears, rage)

Burn/destroy while at peak intensity

Forget it

Don't obsess over meaning

Let it work in subconscious

Trust the process

METHOD 2: Intuitive Drawing

Hold intention in mind

Draw without thinking (automatic writing but visual)

Refine into clean symbol

Charge and release

METHOD 3: Combining Existing Symbols

Choose symbols that represent your goal (astrological, runic, alchemical, cultural)

Combine into one glyph

Charge and activate

CHARGING METHODS:

Gnosis (Altered State):

Sexual: Orgasm while focusing on sigil

Meditative: Deep trance, imprint symbol

Exhaustive: Physical exertion to breakthrough

Emotional: Peak joy/rage/grief while viewing sigil

Sensory: Overload (strobe lights, loud music, spin) or deprivation (darkness, silence)

Energetic:

Breathwork while visualizing sigil glowing

Channeling energy through hands into symbol

Placing on altar during ritual

Elemental:

Burn it (fire transformation)

Bury it (earth manifestation)

Float it away (water flow)

Release to wind (air dispersal)

The method matters less than the intensity. You must hit an altered state where conscious mind steps aside.

COMMON MISTAKES:

Forgetting to forget. You create the sigil then obsess over whether it's working. Your conscious mind's doubt cancels the subconscious work.

Weak charging. You stare at it for 30 seconds while thinking about groceries. No gnosis = no activation.

Vague intention. "I want to be happy" becomes meaningless. "I experience joy in my body daily" is specific.

Reusing sigils. Each sigil should be unique to one intention. Reusing dilutes meaning (unless you're creating a personal symbol language intentionally).

Skipping the destruction. Some traditions say burn/destroy to release. Others say keep. Experiment. But if keeping, don't keep staring at it—put it away.

STRENGTHS:

No materials needed (just pen and paper)

Extremely personal (no one else's energy involved)

Bypasses conscious resistance

Flexible (works for any intention)

Can be hidden in plain sight

LIMITATIONS:

Requires strong visualization/focus

Forgetting can be hard (brain wants to remember)

Results can be subtle/delayed

No direct connection to target (if working on someone else)

COMBINING THE THREE: ADVANCED WORK

The most powerful spells often combine multiple technologies.

EXAMPLE 1: Binding Spell

Contagious: Use their hair (direct connection) Sympathetic: Bind in black thread (black = restriction, binding = constraint) Sigil: Carve binding sigil into black candle, burn over the bound hair

Why this works: Triple mechanism. Contagious connects, sympathetic symbolizes, sigil concentrates intention.

EXAMPLE 2: Healing Spell

Sympathetic: Blue candle (healing color) Contagious: Photo of person to be healed Sigil: Draw healing sigil on photo, place under candle

EXAMPLE 3: Self-Love Spell

Sympathetic: Rose quartz (self-love stone), pink candle Contagious: Your own hair or written name Sigil: Create self-love sigil, charge it during ritual

You don't need all three. But understanding when to use which creates more effective magic.

WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU USE?

Use SYMPATHETIC when:

You want accessible, flexible magic

You're working with abstract concepts (abundance, peace, confidence)

You don't have personal connection to target

You want culturally-understood symbols

Use CONTAGIOUS when:

You need powerful, direct connection to specific person

You have access to their personal items/biological material

You're willing to deal with ethical complexity

You want results that are hard to defend against

Use SIGIL when:

You want to work alone without outside energy

You need to bypass conscious resistance

You want something portable/concealable

You're good with symbols and visualization

You want to "set and forget"

Mix them when:

You want maximum power

You're experienced and can handle complex working

The goal is serious enough to warrant multi-method approach

THE ETHICS QUESTION

Sympathetic magic: Generally ethically neutral. Using symbols doesn't violate anyone.

Contagious magic: Ethically complex. Using someone's biological material without consent is violation, even with good intent.

Sigil magic: Ethically neutral if used on yourself. If creating sigils to influence others, same consent questions apply.

The rule: If you wouldn't do it to someone's face, don't do it with their hair.

PRACTICAL EXERCISE: TEST ALL THREE

Try the same intention using each method. Track which produces better results for you.

Goal: Attract new opportunity

Sympathetic Approach:

Orange candle (opportunity color)

Carve "new doors open" into wax

Burn while visualizing doors opening

Scatter ashes at crossroads

Contagious Approach:

Your business card or resume (contains your energy)

Anoint with success oil

Carry in wallet, sleep with under pillow

"This is me, attracting opportunity"

Sigil Approach:

Create sigil: "OPPORTUNITIES COME TO ME"

Reduce to: P R T N S C M

Draw combined glyph

Charge through meditation/dancing/intensity

Burn and forget

Track results over two weeks. Which method felt most powerful? Which produced tangible results?

Your magic will naturally favor one or two methods. That's your signature.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Sympathetic magic: Like attracts like. Work with symbols.

Contagious magic: Once connected, always connected. Work with physical links.

Sigil magic: Intention becomes symbol. Work with concentrated will.

All three are valid. All three work. The question isn't which is "best"—it's which serves your specific goal and matches your personal power.

Master all three, and you can build any spell from scratch.

No more following recipes you don't understand. You'll know why each ingredient matters, how the mechanics function, and when to use each technology.

That's when you become a witch who understands the craft, not just performs it.

YOUR TURN

Which type of magic do you use most?

Have you been combining them without knowing?

What's one spell you've done that you can now identify as sympathetic, contagious, or sigil work?

Let's talk. Understanding the mechanics changes everything.

Blessed be 🔗

I’m not exactly sure how to answer this, because I can’t tell what context it’s asked from. This is not meant to be a scolding, so please don’t read it that way. But I will say this:

Magic is what you make of it.

It’s not the spell, or even the exact words that matter -it’s the intention, and the belief behind it. Some people like rhymes, some people don’t. Some people prefer long and complicated rituals, some people just want to light a candle and be done with it. Some spells work because they just alter your mindset -like the magic mirror spell. By repeating it daily, it may not actually change the physical imperfection you see in yourself by magic, but you’re going to start to feel more beautiful because you’re altering your pattern of thinking. Which will then start a chain reaction -and may result in you losing that extra ten pounds, or dying your hair or whatever it takes to make you more confident and beautiful. That spell is a positive affirmation that happens to have ties in magic.

Also, let’s not forget that magic doesn’t work on its own. You can’t just cast a spell and expect instant results without any additional effort. Magic works in addition to actions we’re taking. For instance, you shouldn’t cast a money spell and quit your job and just expect cash to flow in. You never know what the consequences might be… You could end up inheriting money because someone you know and love passes away. But, if you’re working hard, and putting in long hours to get that money to flow in, you might find yourself getting a bonus or a raise at the end of the month. (Personally money spells always make me nervous because you never know where that cash is going to come from… You have to state your intentions REALLY clearly to avoid unforeseen consequences.)

Magic doesn’t do things for you, it increases their likelihood. Think of ‘The Secret.’ The ‘Law of Attraction.’ It’s like that. But you’re appealing to your Gods, Goddesses, Elements, and Spirits rather than just leaving it open-ended to the universe. You’re doing the rituals because it shows your dedication to your cause, and because it creates an extended interaction with the ‘powers that be.’ You’re leaving offerings to your Deities to say thank you for their help. Witches do many things to feel that connection with the ‘powers that be,’ spell casting is chief among them. You become an instrument of the energy of the universe. And it, in turn, becomes an extension of you. 

This is a very long winded way of saying, yes. They work for me. Because of my beliefs, and because I believe in the power of the elements, and of the God and Goddess, and so on and so forth. I’m trying to stay away from personal beliefs because I don’t want to tell anyone that they need to worship deities, but you need to recognize that power comes from somewhere. From within yourself, and from without. You have to align yourself with the energies, and you have to be willing to work just as much as you are willing to cast spells. 

Lastly, a lot of people think that all it takes to be a witch is to just cast spells, and brew potions and the like. There’s actually quite a bit of research and work that goes into honing your craft -which is something I learned rather quickly when I started down this path many months ago. I don’t really recommend messing with spells and energies until you really know what you’re working with, and what you believe in. 

Cast, and you’ll find out.