I picked the perfect day and time, found the perfect spell, had a wonderful ritual drumming CD playing in the background, centered, focused, took my time… and nothing. I’ll admit, even a seasoned witch gets depressed when her spell utterly flops.

So I have contemplated it for days. What did I do wrong? Did I miscaculate something? Then a thought started to emerge.

Maybe I was asking for too much, too fast? A quick fix-it to solve most of my problems may not be the answer. So I talked to my husband this afternoon and shared my thoughts with him. Maybe our future path is not being revealed to us because we are not doing enough for ourselves in the present? Do you think, I asked him, that if we got done the things we know need to be done now, that the long terms issues will work themselves out? Or that we will at least get a sign showing us the next step? Maybe we have not prepared ourselves for the next step, and we won’t be allowed to see it until we do? Maybe my spell failed because it had to?

All of this was going through my ming this afternoon. Then tonight, I decided to whip out my personal astrological planner. What does it say for this month? “One Step at a Time.” It tells me that minor adjustments done well are much more valuable this month than dramatic moves, scale back ideas that are running away with themselves, combine small but possible steps. At the bottom of the 2nd page of this month’s advisory it says “Keep in mind this month; Mastering even minor details in your daily life builds a web of competence and confidence to support your long-term goals.”

And what did hubby have to say about this when he got home? “This is why you are supposed to read these things first.” And right he is.

The lesson here? If your spell/prayer/ritual flops, does it mean you did something wrong? Does it mean the universe hates you, that you are no good at casting, or that your dreams are impossible? I guess it is possible, but probably not. Maybe it is just the Universe’s way of saying, “Stop and think about this. Maybe there is another way, another idea, or another time that would be better.” It is your Wake Up and Smell the Coffee! We get signs all the time, and even the most intune of us forget to listen sometimes.

So the next time you think your spell/amulet/deity/sanity has failed you, don’t beat yourself up. Reevaluate. Don’t just think how to cast differently, pray harder, etc. Think about timing, details, alternate ways of doing or thinking it through. There are probably answers right in front of you that you forgot to hear.

~Anyanka

http://www.thewitchescupboard.com

P.S. Just a note, this is a post from my old blog that I had posted at the beginning of this month.

Related posts:

1. Is it Magick or Magic?
2. How to Anoint a Candle for Magick!
3. Color Correspondences for spellcraft and candle magick

Karma is understood in slightly different terms by different religions and cultures. The general idea is that every action we take, both conscious and unconscious, brings about an inevitable, and complimentary, result. The idea is that if you cause ill, you will receive a punishment of some sort. The converse is true for good deeds; do good, be good and good things will come to you. A bit oversimplified? Maybe, but the concept holds true.

Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Wicca, Confucianism, Islam, Judaism, most, if not all, of the major religions have some form of this law, although they perceive the details differently. A common argument regarding the law of karma is that “bad things happen to good people.” This is where the religions begin to differ in their explanations.

Here are some important questions about karma, although the answer will vary by religious philosophy:

• How is karma enacted? Does a higher entity or deity hand down rewards and punishments, a force of nature, a universal law?
• When do your karmic payments and debts come due? In this life, in another incarnation, or a combination of the two? If it is in another life, or a combination, it does explain how some people of questionable ethics seem to experience windfall after windfall.
• Can good/bad karma be passed to future generations?
• What is the measurement of karma? Are the punishments and rewards equal to the action performed or are they magnified? The Wiccan Rede describes the threefold law. “Mind the threefold law ye should, three times bad and three times good.” So whatever energy you send out, good or bad, comes back to you triple strength.

What do the religions seem to agree on? Karma is unavoidable, with the possible exception of performing atonement.

So how do we apply this to witchcraft? Most witches practice some form of spellcraft. When one sets out to perform a spell they have a desire in mind. If they do not consider all the possible consequences and repercussions of that desire coming to fruition, they may experience a negative karmic return. Even if it is unintentional. Why? Not considering how your desire will affect others is selfish, selfishness is negative, thereby creating negative energy. And if your spell should succeed, fulfilling your desire, but at someone else’s expense? Even more negative energy has been created, all of which you have to pay for eventually.

*Just a side note on this subject. I personally believe, although others may disagree, that if one has made every effort to think of the consequences and missed one or two, that will either produce a lesser karmic whiplash or possibly none at all. If it is truly an honest mistake, I think even universal forces take that into consideration. But maybe that’s just me

A good example of this in action is a love spell. Love spells are tricky, since most love spells are intended to interfere with the free will of another person. So if you plan to attempt a love spells, tread carefully. Stick to spells that strengthen an existing bond, help the two of you communicate better, understand each other better, or for whatever the inevitable result of the relationship is to resolve quickly. Use love spells as nudges, not bulldozers. If you cast a spell to make a married man leave his wife for you, you could be hurting him, his wife, any children he/they may have, the families of both spouses, and ultimately yourself. Remember, no matter how much you may want someone, it isn’t right to roll over every one just to get what you want. And if you have to do that, do you really want it anyway?

So how can we preserve our karma for the benefit of ourselves and others? Christians call it the Golden Rule, NeoPagans call it the Law of Return or Threefold Law. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, love your neighbor as yourself, harm ye none do what ye will. Give real consideration to your actions/words/spells, and the potential consequences of each. Lend a hand, help a stranger, give someone a kind word when they need it, and always ALWAYS consider the possible consequences of your spells.

*Personal tip: I like to add a line or two to the end of my spells asking that it bring no harm to myself or others. Just my little failsafe

~Anyanka

Related posts:

1. Understanding the Differences & Similarities between Wicca & Witchcraft