Spellcraft

[lordalfredhenry]

Is there a generic format for spells? I mean, can you fill out a form/madlib and get a spell? I'm looking for several "generic spells" (spells for any purpose with minor alterations). I suppose candle magic or censer fire magic might be like that. I do like more complexity however than some of those forms. Observing a day of the week or moon

Comments

[lordalfredhenry]

Thank you. I like the concept of the three ingredients and there are a few others out there who use other "components" like: sight, sound, smell (sensory) or the four elements (chose a component from each one), or as you mention: will, focus and energy. I have been reading a lot about "raising energy", ancient sacrifice....I'm sure you're familiar with the connection. All that is energy. Intent and will are often derived at through exploring subconscious or simply listening inside a bit. The focus? That's a hard one but as you say, "trappings" do it. I like the concept of trappings as a useful prop for beginners and I would suggest that some beginners need them more than others....perhaps even some experts as well.

What you describe as the "usually one other ingredient" however seems almost plug and play to me. Correspondences are usually the plug part and the template is the play after they've merged/been done. I do think it's possible to have effective plug and play if perhaps it's a base. Do spells have to be unique each time or should they be consistent? Obviously, situation and the targets are not unique. I think the effectuality is still based on will, focus and energy. That's where a plug and play might fail and that's if it seems "overdone" to contain enough energy or "overplayed" to capture focus. Will is perhaps the most paramount of the three though.

Anyhow, I'm still hopeful that one can perhaps create a system or even "art" and perhaps with enough complexity, it doesn't get too overdone and with the plugs, it can create unique combos...although, combos are hardly interesting after a while either. Often, the format must change.

I often wonder where the term "spell" comes from and it's relatatedness to the word "spelling". It might help to know this too. There do seem to be some common connotations of "combinatory" effects/meanings.

[nightshade_oak]

From Etymonline:

spell (n.)
"incantation, charm," O.E. spell "story, speech," from P.Gmc. *spellan (cf. O.N. spjall, O.H.G. spel, Goth. spill "report, discourse, tale;" Ger. Beispiel "example;" see spell (v.1)). Meaning "set of words with magical powers, incantation, charm" first recorded 1579. Spellbound is attested from 1799, from bound "fastened."

spell (v.1)
"name the letters of," O.E. spellian "to tell, speak," infl. by O.Fr. espeller "declare, spell," from Frank. *spellon "to tell;" both O.E. and Frank. from P.Gmc. *spellan (cf. O.H.G. spellon "to tell," O.N. spjalla, Goth. spillon "to talk, tell"), from PIE *spel- "to say aloud, recite." Meaning "write or say the letters of a word" is c.1400, from notion of "read letter by letter, read with difficulty" (c.1300). Spell out "explain step-by-step" is first recorded 1940, Amer.Eng. Spelling bee is from 1878 (earlier simply spelling, 1860).

[lordalfredhenry]

Interesting. I was just over at another dictionary looking at the etymology. It seems to be an expounding out, a tale, a duration/shift or all those connotations. To be "casting" a spell seems to be akin to casting a spell of dry season, perhaps some other enchanting condition. It does seem to imply a temporary effect in any case. I believe it's close to the slang "schpiel" or "spiel" which is a term people use to go out and tell their tale/story or message. Like an advert/sales call, spells might also be associated with hypnosis it seems which seems the reason why people are "under" one. (dry expounding might put people under a drooling / trance as well). The report one is an interesting one. I suppose it's connotatively related to an expounding of one's doings or even an invitation to be rationalized/persuaded to.