How do you power your
magic? As with anything magical, there are far more answers than any one
person would care to know. When it comes to spells, what you use can
have a potent influence on the efficacy of the spell. Whether
channeling, transmuting, or just using your own internal energy, it’s
good to consider the source of the spell’s power when crafting it. More
traditionally minded witches look toward the elements and herbal/crystal
correspondences, but there’s also plenty of other ways to power your
spells! Here, I review some common and uncommon energy sources and how
to use them. This list is most certainly not exhaustive and is intended
more to provide a starting point for thinking about what makes different
energy sources unique. If you don’t already, I encourage you to think
critically about the sources of magical power you use and what makes
them so effective!
Traditional Sources:
Traditional Sources:
- The sun - As the primary provider of measurable energy such as light and heat, the sun is essential to life. Solar energy is potent and unfiltered so it’s very powerful, but also undirected. For both physical and magical purposes, solar energy has to undergo transformative processes in order to be useful to us. Channeling solar energy to power a spell is a common practice, though it should be done with care since the sun tends to burn up whatever it touches when used irresponsibly.
- The moon - The moon is the gentler counterpart to the sun. It traditionally fills a more mystical role, better suited to emotionality, secrecy, and protection than raw strength. The moon’s phases also offer clear time periods to suit different goals, especially ones that need time to develop. Many practitioners choose to time their workings by the moon’s phases, like to ensure that a spell manifests by a certain point in time.
- Candles - A candle is a fiery energy source that can be easily manipulated by the practitioner. Like all fire-based energies, it is best suited for creative works, strength of will, etc. Candles are especially useful due to the high degree of specification they can have. A candle dressed in oil or carved with an intention can be more closely bound to the magical goal and thus more easily channeled into the spell. Herbs, colors, sizes, and scents may also be used to attune the energy source to the goal. Furthermore, the practitioner has direct control over the source itself and can make use of lighting and extinguishing the candle as a means of manipulating the spell’s energy.
- Grounding, earthing - There seems to be a bit of disagreement over whether grounding is best used as a conclusion to a spell or as an energy source for a spell, but I think the reason for this is that there are several different kinds of grounding processes. When grounding a spell after its completion, the practitioner is sending the existing magical energy back into the world in order to allow it to take effect and manifest. Grounding as an energy source is a way of channeling energy from the earth (or the universe) to power your spell. Both are good techniques in my opinion, though I tend to find other ways of concluding and “sending out” my magical works similarly effective.
- Railroads - Railroads are an old form of energy, at least as far as man-made sources go. They are a good source of energy for things that need a lot of strength, or that need to travel long distances. They also have a significant association with trade and commerce, as well as with moving or traveling for pleasure.
- Subways - I find myself using subways most often for work related magic. I find the electrified third rail to be a powerful point to tap into when working spells that need to reach across the city (like calling for trains to come sooner) or when I’m working in the direct vicinity. Subway commuters tend to be pretty well synchronized to the ambient energy, so you could also probably use some of it to affect the atmosphere on the platform or give yourself a little boost of energy before heading off.
- Outlets & Adapters - I love using adapters for charging little charms and sigils! It’s a pretty neutral energy, plus it’s well suited to passive charging. Usually, I can leave stuff sitting on my laptop adapter overnight and find it all juiced up in the morning. You could also definitely transmute it for use in more structured/ritual-based spells, though I find it a bit awkward to include.
- Personal energy - Like most things, the magical practitioner themselves may act as an energy source. In some cases, this is desirable as it allows for a very personal mark on the spell. Tying a spell’s energy to one’s own will and strength gives the practitioner direct control over the spell and also can help them keep tabs on how active the spell is. On the other hand, a spell might require more energy than the practitioner has to offer, potentially draining the user unexpectedly, causing the spell to fail, or both. Personally, I use my energy when I have some extra to spare, which is a nice way of saying I dump all my anger into my curses. When doing that, I also make sure to seal off the spell when I’m done so none of it comes back to me. If you choose not to seal off your workings entirely, you may leave a limited connection in order to keep tabs on whatever it is you’re powering. I do this for simple servitors and wards so that I can keep them from running too low. I wouldn’t recommend dumping all your energy into a spell all at once because you can and will exhaust yourself.
- Channeling - Channeling is less a source of its own and more a means of using sources like those mentioned above. When channeling energy, the practitioner simply acts as a conduit to direct external energy into their magical work. Channeling is generally regarded as a pretty basic energy work skill and is virtually essential for witches, regardless of path. Of course, now that I’ve said that, someone’s going to tell me they have a practice that never uses channeling, but hey, that’s how it goes. I think the trickiest part of channeling is keeping your energy and the energy you’re channeling separate. Obviously, your own personal energy can be used in a spell, but that gets exhausting fast and if you’re trying to avoid that by channeling, you should be careful not to still end up draining yourself too. Likewise, channeling opens you up to direct contact with external energy sources, some of which you may not want lingering around. If you’re worried about getting stuff mixed up, try working with a familiar energy source like a crystal or a plant before working with more powerful energy like the sun or a planet.
- Transmutation - Like channeling, transmutation is a way of making use of energy. Its main difference is that instead of using an energy specially chosen for the practitioner’s purposes, they simply pull from what’s around and transform it on the fly. Transmutation requires a bit more practice than channeling, as you have to modify the energy you’re bringing in before you can make use of it, but it’s also damn convenient. I find it best used when working with neutral energy, especially the kind that seems to linger around cities and man-made sources. Neutral energies can also be combined through transmutation, so you can even mat Transmutation of natural sources is most definitely possible, but it’s best suited to the kind of generic energy that you’d find in unprogrammed quartz rather than say, trying to transmute the energy in lavender for a nasty curse.
