How To: practice intuitive spellwork ☽
Have you ever been curious about writing spells?
Or about utilizing witchcraft in a way that flows, is easy, and uses all of the knowledge and energy inside of yourself that you currently possess?
Me too!
I believe that the process of creating spells and rituals and practicing witchcraft can be easy, fun, and powerful.
Utilizing magick does not need to be complicated or complex.
I am always reminding myself that my magick, my energy, and my powers are always available to me when I choose to tap in and access them. Our power is always at our fingertips.
And with that being said, let's begin the process of learning about intuitive spellwork!
A note before beginning :
My aim with teaching and guiding you through the practice of Intuitive Spellwork is to offer a perspective that even a true beginner of the practice will be able to understand and learn from. There are a few times throughout this guided process that I suggest the person practicing take a step away from the process in order to be with themselves, or to come back and try the process again later if something is not flowing. This is not to discourage anyone from continuing with the process of writing a spell, but rather to ENCOURAGE you to take your time with this process, and recognize that building intuition is something that can take time if we have a history of trauma or an underdeveloped intuitive voice. I want to remind you that it is OK if you are a beginner, it is OK if you become triggered during this process, it is OK if you become frustrated or feel that you cannot complete this process in the exact way it is outlined. The practice of Intuitive Spellwork is really about developing intuition - developing our voice, our magick, and our abilities to define and identify our internal languages and landscapes. When I say this, I am referring to the voices in our head, the energy we feel in our body, the way we see the world . . . the emotions that come up for us. These are all apart of our internal language and landscape. Intuitive Spellwork is a tool that can help us further develop these in ourselves, and better understand these aspects of ourselves as well.
I want to encourage everyone to participate in this work if they feel called to do so. I also want to hold space and recognize that folks with a history of trauma may feel unsafe tuning into the energy of the body. Throughout this practice, there are multiple instances where I ask the participant to spend time tuning into their body. If this is too triggering or challenging, I invite you to play with other ways of tuning into yourself that feel safer or more aligned for yourself.
My aim is for this practice to be fluid and adaptable, there are no hard set rules, and you can adjust the practices as you see fit. And in doing so -- you are also continuing to build up your intuitive voice! How beautiful and cyclical is that.
ᑔ ᑔ ᑔ ᑔ ᑔ ᑔ ᑔ ᑔ - - - - - - - -What is Spellwork?
You may be asking yourself - what even is spellwork?
I really enjoy Wikipedia's definition :
Any magical practice involving creating or casting spells, especially new enchantments or spells which are intricate or complex.
The formula or formulation of one or more spells or enchantments; the individual parts constituting such a formulation; the inner workings or structure of a spell.
Spellwork does not HAVE to be intricate - unless you desire it to be.
It can be as complex or as simple as you like it. What matters is your intention behind crafting the spell, and how you intend to use it in ritual.
Much of the practice of Intuitive Spellwork is the preparation and process of allowing yourself to access a state of intuitive trust and creative flow. Spellwork doesn't necessarily equal writing a spell. You can practice Intuitive Spellwork without writing a spell, however in this method I am guiding you through the process of embodying spellwork and actually writing about it. The actual writing process of the spell can be quite simple or very complex if you wish. It is the practices and rituals you engage in that form a spell. A spell can be formed with energy, with written words, rituals, or intentional practices, or all of the above!
Spellwork: the work of creating energy, ritual, and intention behind the spell
For example: Lighting candles, taking deep breaths, and clearing off a space to create an altar.
Spell: the actual intention or action of casting your desire into the universe
For Example: writing 3 times in a row the sentence 'I am manifesting abundance' and hanging the paper above your altar
Why create a spell?
Creating a spell is great when you are looking to manifest, channel energy, harness your inner power, release attachments, bring forth abundance, repel or expel negative energy, work more closely with spirit guides or other forces of energy, and so many more reasons. The opportunities with spellwork are truly endless.
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1. How to begin the process of thinking about rituals and spellwork
Start by stating an intention. Are you unsure of why you would like to create a spell or ritual, but you feel in your heart or body that it is something you would like to do? Here are some questions you can ask yourself that may help to bring forth the intention you are seeking.
- What emotions have been presenting themselves in my life / coming up for me recently?
- Do I have a desire to release a certain attachment in my life?
- Do I want to go deeper with myself and learn more about my inner psyche and emotional landscape?
- Do I feel I have magick or powers that I would like to develop?
- Am I hearing voices or getting signs from other beings or energy fields and am I looking to connect with them?
- Am I looking to manifest a situation, person, state of being, or opportunity into my life?
- Am I seeking to work in deeper relation with plant, forest, or animal spirits?
Spend some time reading over these questions and see if any of them resonate with what you are feeling in your body and heart. It is OK if none of these questions resonate for you.
Your intention can simply be that you wish to write a spell, and utilize your intuition while doing so.
Once you begin the process of inquiring with your self about your intentions behind practicing spellwork and you feel clear in your heart and body, I invite you to grab your journal, and a writing utensil that brings you joy.
What does it mean to feel clear in your heart and body? Try this exercise:
- State your intention out loud or with your mind's eye (the voice/vision you hear/see in your head).
- Take a deep breath. Breathe in, hold for 7 seconds, exhale.
- Now notice your body's reaction and response. Do you feel sure of yourself? Relaxed and at ease? Or does your mind or body feel clouded, tense, or anxious?
- If you feel relaxed and at ease, I invite you to move forward with the next step of this practice.
- If you feel tense, anxious, clouded, or unsure -- I invite you to sit with yourself longer.
- Take note of all the challenging emotions or bodily responses that are surfacing for you, and continue to breathe. Make sure you are in a comfortable and safe space to be able to address these thoughts or feelings with yourself.
- Imagine that these thoughts and emotions are clouds that are passing by in your mind's eye. You are simply here to witness and take note of them.
- If it feels helpful to you, I invite you to write down all the emotions and thoughts that are coming up. Do not filter them, simply jot them down.
- If you are unsure about how to identify your emotions with words, you can try identifying them by shape, color, or where you feel them in your body. Even if it feels like identifying an emotion by a color or shape does not make logical sense, I invite you to trust your intuition with this exercise and listen to the first thought that comes to mind when you work with this exercise.
- I invite you to keep sitting with these emotions and thoughts until your body and heart feels a sense of ease or clarity, or when the tension in your muscles relaxes, or when the pace of your heart stops beating so fast. It may take awhile, but that is completely normal and OK, especially if you are new to this kind of practice or have faced significant trauma - the act of being in the body or with the mind can be very unsettling and uncomfortable. I just want to remind you that whatever you are feeling is totally valid.
- Once you feel ready to move forward, I invite you to read over the next step. If you need to come back to this practice and just sit with your emotions and body for awhile, I invite you to do that too. Follow your energy and what feels right for you at any given moment.
2. Automatic Writing and Journal Practice
Now that you have stated your intention out loud and have harnessed clarity within yourself, we can begin the process of automatic writing and journaling.
What is automatic writing? Here is another great internet definition for you:
Automatic writing is writing performed without conscious thought or deliberation, typically by means of spontaneous free association or as a medium for spirits or psychic forces.
Automatic writing is simply the process of writing down your thoughts freely and uninhibited. Not controlling or filtering what you say. Keeping pen to paper and not taking a moment to pause or think. Simply just jotting down whatever comes to you. It can be ridiculous and make no sense, it can be the same word over and over, all of it is part of the automatic writing process.
How to start
- After you have completed the previous exercise of stating your intention, you are now ready to begin your automatic writing process.
- If you would like to practice a meditation or breath work session before you begin, I invite you to do so if you feel called. Otherwise, I suggest to take 3 big, deep, and long intentional breaths before you begin. If your mind wanders while you are breathing, start over. Start the automatic writing process after you have taken 3 breaths and you were able to be present with each breath.
- Have your journal or paper and writing utensil ready and available for immediate use once you are done with your breathing practice. Have your phone or a timer nearby. Set the timer for between 3 - 5 minutes, however long you are comfortable with. Once the timer goes off, begin! Do not look up from the paper or engage in any distractions or other affairs until the timer goes off.
- If there is a moment where nothing is coming to you to write about, you can scribble or just write the word 'nothing'. Just keep going. Let your intuition guide you in this process. There is no right or wrong way to engage with this practice.
- Once the timer goes off: take a look at what you have written. Do any repeat words or phrases come up for you? Are there any symbols or drawings that presented themselves through this practice? Is there a particular energy about what you wrote that appears to be obvious?
For example: Did you write about a particular thought that has been reoccurring for you?
- Take a moment to read over what you wrote, even if it was complete nonsense. Continue to pay attention to any parts of your writing that stick out to you. Listen to your intuition. It can be as simple as reading a word and noticing how powerful it feels in your heart, or a funny non-sensical phrase that you wrote out that inspires you.
- Once you have identified a piece of your writing that feels powerful, or that you are curious about to delve deeper with, you may move onto the next step of the intuitive spellwork process.
- If you are staring at your writing and not feeling called to what has been written, that is OK! I invite you to go another round with automatic writing, or take a break and come back to this practice later on.
3. The Beginnings of Writing a Spell
- Now that you have identified key words or phrases from your automatic writing process, it is time to start spell writing!
- Before we start, let's categorize your key word or phrase in order to have a better understanding of it's roots.
- Ask yourself, is this key word or phrase . . .
- an emotion?
- a recurring thought?
- an energy that i currently feel or have been feeling recently?
- the name of a person?
- a color, shape, or sound?
- a mantra?
These are simply a few examples of categories or labels to better identify your key words. When you ask yourself "what is this key word or phrase?", use your intuition to identify the most accurate category.
For example : In my automatic writing process, I repeated the word "surrender" over and over. This word stuck out to me. When I read it I felt very open and alive within my heart, and also a bit anxious and uncomfortable. I identified surrender as an action and also an energy that I have been feeling into lately over the past few weeks. I decided to use this as my key word and then I went further by categorizing it so I could understand it's roots.
- Once we have taken the time to identify the roots of our key word or phrase, we can begin to play with the energy of this word or phrase.
- We can also begin to identify what does this word or phrase mean to us, and how would we like to use it.
For example : In order to 'play' with the energy of the word "surrender", I can begin drawing or writing the word on a page with different colored pencils, or I can write the word over and over again but re-arranging the lettering. I can write "surrender" at the top of a piece of paper and then identify words that are synonymous with it. I can also simply meditate on the word "surrender" and journal about what the energy of surrender looks or feels like in my life. And since I have taken the time to categorize this key word - as an action and as an energy - if I desire, I can also journal about what the action of "surrendering" looks like, and also what the energy of "surrendering" feels like.
These are just a few examples of how to 'play' with your key word or phrase, but you can really make up your own practice. Get creative! And if you cannot think of anything, you are always welcome to utilize one of the examples I have listed above.
identifying what this word or phrase means to us + how we would like to use it ;
For example : After I have completed the practice of 'playing' with the energy of the word "surrender", I can now sit and identify what this word means to me. I recognize after completing these practices that in my life, surrender means letting go and trusting the powers of the universe. I decide that I want to utilize the power of surrender in my life by learning to let go. I also identified various themes in my life that could really use the power of surrender in order for me to heal and feel more fully alive. I wrote those down and will use them for crafting my spell.
4. Writing the Spell
- Now, we take all that we have written and processed : our keyword or phrase from our automatic writings, what we learned from practicing some of the above exercises, our drawings or journal entries, and we lay them out before us, and use them as inspiration to begin crafting a spell.
- This part of the process is completely up to you, and loose in structure.
- Writing your spell can simply be your key word or phrase written over and over again and said out loud. It can be a poem with words that rhyme. It can be mantras or a journal entry you read out loud that sets a clear intention for the present moment.
- What makes a written spell different than a poem, or a book, or any other piece of writing, is that I believe spells have clear intentions for how their energy will be utilized.
- When writing your spell, I invite you to assess if your spell has a clear intention and purpose. Your automatic writing process, breath work, and key words and phrases that you identified are all tools that can help you set your intention for the spell.
For example : Because I chose the word 'surrender', and I identified that I would like to invite the energy of surrender to more areas and aspects of my life, I set my intention when writing my spell that I wanted to release control over areas of my life that I cannot change. I wrote down this intention at the end of my spell. I also spoke this intention out loud over and over.
- Once you have finished writing your spell, you can play with it! Repeat it out loud 5 times. Or place the piece of paper with the written spell on your altar. Or hang it above your bed. It is up to you to decide how you will practice and utilize this spell.
Alternatives to writing a Spell
I want to offer a few alternatives if the concept or process of writing a spell does not align with you. You can create a spell without writing it down. It just simply needs to be an action with a clear utilization of your energy and magick.
Examples of Spells :
- A lit candle that you whisper mantra manifestations into. The candle may be a specific color that represents the energy you are trying to call in or release.
- A bouquet of flowers that is kept outside on top of the stump of a tree, that you visit everyday and repeat your spell out loud to.
- Preparing a cup of tea with special herbs and whispering intentions or prayers into the leaves as you prepare it, and stirring the tea with a special spoon that you bless or cleanse beforehand
- Waking up with the sunrise, driving or walking into a forest, beach, or mountaintop. Drawing symbols in the sand and saying aloud a spell or incantation with each symbol.
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The Process is C O M P L E T E !
I hope you enjoyed learning about Intuitive Spellwork, rituals, and the process of writing or alternative ways of practicing spells.
I am open to any and all suggestions, feedback, comments, etc; and I would love to hear how this work inspired your own practice if it did.
My aim is to always be transparent, honest, accountable, trauma-informed, inclusive, anti-racist, and open with my witchcraft and spiritual offerings. I am always learning, evolving, shape-shifting, and adapting. I am open to insight, constructive criticism and feedback from you if you feel called to share.
You are welcome to message me here on Patreon or send me an email at ;
gabrielleroshelli@gmail.com
Let me know how I can be of service to you
☽
