Question: The term 'Spell'

[thecupidstheatre]

I wanted to ask everyone in the community how you view or think of the term: Spell.

I'm not a committed person to Witchcraft, but i'm heavily involved with aligning my energy regarding the Chakras, Herbs, and even reading on Spells. I've done my reading and mild studying to understand the basics of Witchcraft though I know well enough i'm very involved in my Astrology journey.

I see the term 'Spell' as an incantation; like an affirmation or intention being made to your spirit guides, ancestors, gods/goddesses you pray to, and really all along those lines.

and one last question: Though i'm somebody that isn't heavily involved in this craft, is it okay for someone who isn't committed to state the term 'Spell'?

I involve myself much into Spellwork, reading on Candle Work, Herbalism, and more around this forum and in the community. I'm kinda just all over the place in the metaphysical.

[SpiritTalker]

spell 1  (spĕl)
v. spelled or spelt (spĕlt), spell·ing, spells
v.tr.
1. To name or write in order the letters constituting (a word).
2. To constitute the letters of (a word): These letters spell animal.
3. To add up to; signify: Their unwise investment could spell financial ruin.
v.intr.
To name or write in order the letters of a word or words: I've never been able to spell very well.
Phrasal Verbs:
spell down
To defeat in a spelling bee.
spell out
1. To make clear and explicit: asked him to spell out his objectives.
2. To name or write in order the letters that constitute (a word or part of a word): spelled out my name.
[Middle English spellen, to read letter by letter, from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin.]
spell 2  (spĕl)
n.
1.
a. A word or formula believed to have magic power.
b. A bewitched state or trance: The sorcerer put the prince under a spell.
2. A compelling attraction; charm or fascination: the spell of the theater.
tr.v. spelled, spell·ing, spells
To put (someone) under a spell; bewitch.
[Middle English, discourse, from Old English.]
spell 3  (spĕl)
n.
1. A short, indefinite period of time.
2. Informal A period of weather of a particular kind: a dry spell.
3.
a. One's turn at work.
b. A period of work; a shift.
4. Australian A period of rest.
5. Informal A period of physical or mental disorder or distress: a dizzy spell.
6. Informal A short distance.
v. spelled, spell·ing, spells
v.tr.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

If you wanted a definition, there ya' go. . As you can see there is no reference made to a commitment requirement. You don't even need a license. Relax & sit a spell to spell out yoir spell ... oops,did i spell that right?

[Corbin]

I'll take:

3. To add up to; signify

and charm.

... but I'm keeping spell because without it I would lose 'casting' and you definitely 'cast out spells' like a fishing line into a big ole lake.

-----

If you don't like spellcasting call it determination, half-glass full, positive thinking, serendipity, cosmic ordering, self-fulfilling prophecy, prayer, destiny or dumb beautiful luck... Conversely hopelessness, glass half empty, negative thinking, fate or 'the evils' of jealously, and avarice? Being unlucky. Being cursed. The world hating you.

... Regardless 'spellcasting' isn't new to the world and to people - we've all done it (usually in a terribly inefficient, incautious, unfocused hit-and-miss way) and never stopped doing it - for good or ill - but we rebrand, disguise and occult it many times to suit our mental landscape; focused, determined and directed will gently effecting the would around us because we are intimately connected (maybe unaware) to the world around us.

Some live a charmed life?

If you can make something happen working through intuition, with no intention or inclination explaining exactly how and have become quite content with this, weaving a vague all encompassing dismissive / permissive web of maybe and misdirection over the situation, I would probably call you a witch like me

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Abracadabra (The Magician reversed)

Abracadabra

The glass is half full?

Abracadabr

No; my glass is half empty.

Abracadab

Everyday I live?

Abracada

No; everyday I die.

Abracad

All the magic I have …

Abraca

I will fritter away,

Abrac

in the cant’s

Abra

and the won’t,

Abr

in the never’s

Ab

and why’s.

A?

[SapphireRoad]

I wanted to ask everyone in the community how you view or think of the term: Spell.

Although every little intent releases a bit of mental magic into the world to do it's bid,
I think of spell to be this:

1. You have a wish to fulfil your intent.
2. You raise magical energy.
3. You encode it so that it knows how to serve you.
5. You release it to travel the world and do your bid.
6. You don't think about it anymore so that you don't distract it nor resummon back to you.

number 4 omitted because I think it is not often mentioned in wiccan lore, the woodoo technique to make some sort of protection on the spell, so that some magician on the astral plane could not steal nor corrupt this rush of energy that you sent.
I think in witchcraft you mostly protect it by asking the assistance of the suitable befriended spirits.

I don't know how to do the woodoo protection. Anyone knows?

[SpiritTalker]

@Corbin - oo, I enjoyed Abracadabra.

@SL - Good precedure description. (I'm not familiar with the 4th step)

@Cupid - I've described my spelling as think it, feel it, say it (an' harm none), & let it go. I use centering an attitude of gratitude & knowing the Universe responds.

Let me add a note of explanation for having posted various definitions of the term "spell" - just illustrating the need to be specific in wording magic spells.

[Panthera]

I personally prefer to use the term "ritual" rather than spell.

[Silas Nightfall]

Panthers, that seems slightly backward to me. A ritual is a spell, done ritualistically. That is to say, a spell is one time, but a ritual is done repeatedly, often on a schedule. For example, “Dave ritually had two cups of coffee every morning.”

Thecupidstheater, this may sound more acedemic than spiritual, however, thoughts are energy, spoken and written words retain that energy. Words are SPELLed a certain way. Thus, a spell.

[SnowCat]

I ritually wake up to fresh coffee at 4:25 a.m.

[barker]

A nice translation of "spell" would be "love-thought," ie something that you can th-eel.