ways to do spells

[yewberry]

Oh lord......you're going to make me go through about 3 years of paperwork. I'll find them and post them, but it probably won't be tomorrow.....

Well, I found this.  But it says nothing about any provable supernatural phenomena was occurring during this test, just that certain parts of the brain were active when the subject claimed to be engaging in telepathy.  That's a big distinction.

Brina

[Catherine]

 
Thirded! (Hmm, I don't think that's a word)

I think that everyone has to find their own way of doing things, but it doesn't always have to be super complicated to work. It can, in fact, be easy sometimes.

I started out doing basically folk magic. It worked really well for me, I had pretty consistent results. Sure there were a few epic failures, but I think you get those in any magical system. It wasn't until I started adding in all of the "energy work" stuff, and the more ceremonial aspects that things got weird for me.

I realized that I was over thinking it. Trying to account for every eventuality, needing to be super precise and spending hours trying to raise energy, visualize, etc. was sucking the magic right out of my spells. So I've gone back to the folk magic type stuff and guess what, I'm getting consistent results again.

Don't get me wrong, I do think that intent is important. However, I don't necessarily have to spend a great deal of time clarifying my intent. I mean, It's kind of a given that if I need cash, I don't want something terrible to happen to get it. The terrible isn't likely to happen as a result of my spell, because it's not part of my intent in the first place.

I do recognize that there could be negative consequences to any spell, but there could be negative consequences to walking out my front door, too. I'm not going to agonize over leaving my house every day, why should I agonize over doing a spell?

I also don't believe that all magic comes from within the practitioner. There's loads of magic in the world around us. When I use herbs, stones, feathers, what have you, I'm not using my own power exclusively. I'm also tapping into power that exists in it's own right, outside of me. That's why the ingredients are important to me. They have power of their own, not just the power I give them in my mind.

Just my two cents...

[hufflee]

Well, I found this.  But it says nothing about any provable supernatural phenomena was occurring during this test, just that certain parts of the brain were active when the subject claimed to be engaging in telepathy.  That's a big distinction.

Brina

I've never seen that one before, but it's interesting.

*Also, it wasn't something that I found online, but something that was given to me.

[Lecia Hale]

Actually, it is measurable by science, and has been measured in numerous studies now. I'm not just talking about paranormal activity, but of the energy exerted by telepathics, telekenetics and such.....think electrodes in the brain. While the docs and scientists agree there is definitely MORE of something going on, they still don't know why other than the part of the test patient's brain is more active in a particular spot than in a "normal" person.

I'm sure if we had electrodes placed in our brains when we were doing spellwork, the same would be true.

Let me know when they are able to locate and measure a protective spell around a house and then I'll eat my shoes.
 
I have no doubt that there's something going on in the brain during spellwork, but they already decided they can't find the God particle. They're also still looking for the graviton, and we already KNOW that gravity exists because we walk on the ground and things fall. Do you really think they can find the magic particle that draws money to me when I cast a spell with a green candle during a waxing moon while burning cinnamon incense? Do you think they can prove that even by placing me in a lab? (Oh, got my paycheck for being a magical guinea pig... see, it works!) Gods help us if they ever do discover magical energy scientifically... the damage they could do...  

For now, magic is somehow affecting the world through our minds, but not by any measurable energetic fields outside our body. It must be working on another dimension, and they would probably have to find a window into that first and figure out how our brains connect to it and then to the outcome. The damage they could do...

[hufflee]

Originally Posted by hufflee  
Actually, it is measurable by science, and has been measured in numerous studies now. I'm not just talking about paranormal activity, but of the energy exerted by telepathics, telekenetics and such.....think electrodes in the brain. While the docs and scientists agree there is definitely MORE of something going on, they still don't know why other than the part of the test patient's brain is more active in a particular spot than in a "normal" person.

I'm sure if we had electrodes placed in our brains when we were doing spellwork, the same would be true.

Which studies would those be?

Brina

Ok, I've looked, and I can't find the box(es) that I would have filed them in. Which means they are either in storage or in my mom's horse trailer. So for the time being, scratch my comments about the scientific testing since I can't prove them up at this time. When I come across them, I will start a thread and post them there. Sorry everybody, for making a statement that I can't back up.

[sephira]

How would you guys do spells?

 
Hufflee...don't fret about it! I still think you're cool!

I had to go back to the first post to refresh my memory what the thread was originally about! I respect that you guys have your opinions, but, boy, do you go off on tangents here!

I attempt to use visualization in my spells, but I haven't mastered the art. Nor have I mastered the art of grounding, centering, and meditating! I focus as hard as I can, but one can only focus so much before you're just staring into space. Yeah, I've read the books, and practiced like a fiend!, but to no avail. I can sort of do it (meditate), but I distract so easily! It's annoying, and depressing! Ah well, I just have to keep at it I guess.

My favorite spells to do are candle burning spells. In fact, if I can turn it into a candle spell, all the more fun! I can make them as simple or as elaborate as I want. I usually add a crystal, or two, for good measure (I have 75 to choose from and the collection is still growing) or some herbs. See, it all depends!