[Help] Replacing ingredients in Spells

[sloth]

Hi everyone ! Sorry if my english is bad since it’s not my first language !!!
I seen some tutorials on tiktok on how to do some spell (glamour, love and protection i think?) and i was wondering if ingredients are really important to cast a spell or it’s the intention that is the most important ? I’m a college student and don’t really have a lot of money for other things than food so i don’t know if i’ll be able to buy some of the most important ingredients. So, do I really need them or can i just use candles and chants for my spells ?

 

[HoldAll]

Perhaps you want to use different titles for your threads to reflect the content of your posts. I keep seeing "Baby Witch" and dismiss it as yet another introduction without bothering to read it.

 

[Yazata]

Updated title

 

[Witch Cat]

Hi everyone ! Sorry if my english is bad since it’s not my first language !!!
I seen some tutorials on tiktok on how to do some spell (glamour, love and protection i think?) and i was wondering if ingredients are really important to cast a spell or it’s the intention that is the most important ? I’m a college student and don’t really have a lot of money for other things than food so i don’t know if i’ll be able to buy some of the most important ingredients. So, do I really need them or can i just use candles and chants for my spells ?

Good evening. Yes, material components CAN add a boost to your spells and rituals, as they can help you harmonize with the specific vibrational essence of the planetary or celestial sphere that aligns with your intended work. However, it is not absolutely necessary, and some even say that no physical media are required to work any sort of ritual (just you and your Will alone). A good fictional example of this is the classic film, The Raven. Boris Karloff and Vincent Price have advanced magickal skills and can use Will alone to work their magick, but Peter Lorre has to use physical tools, etc to do his own. It still works, though. Just remember, what is good for the goose sometimes is not good for the gander, and experimentation will give you a better idea of what you need to do your own work. Now, regarding the physical materials. You might want to consult some published tables of correspondences; a classic is Liber 777 though there are many others, and you can no doubt find lists of materia magica online. In regards to substitutions, you need to know the nature of the herb, metal, stone, curio, etc. and how it aligns with the spell. IE: you may see that the metal gold is often listed as a base for solar talismans, yet in today's world, gold is very expensive and most who own some would have it in a safe place and not using it for a magickal artifact (at least, I wouldn't, not in my neighborhood!). However, it is generally agreed upon that you may substitute another surface, say maybe a gold-colored plate, or even yellow-gold paper (like a nice goldenrod). It might not harmonize as well with the Solar sphere but it will still get the job done (especially if you prepare the paper and link it to the Sun via ritual). Knowing the nature of the item will allow you to try and substitute another in its place (or, you can omit it to a possible decrease in the effectiveness of your work, but this is often done when working with older books that ask for inhumane or illegal acts or items in the lists of tools or actions). Maybe someone else here can add more specific details on ritual substitutions?

 

[r4zorenigma]

@sloth Intention is the most important but typically, like a food recipe, Yes, many of the herbs and plants are interchangable--.. just want to make sure they are right for what you are intending..

I would recommend checking out some books on wiccan or folk magick, or herbal magick.. Once you start getting a good idea of what herbs and plants are best for what purpose, you'll see there are several interchangeable ones..

Some powerful ones you want to keep on hand are: Cloves or Clove Oil, Bay Leaf, Basil, Cinnamon, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Chilli Powder/Cayenne.. Rosemary, Lavender, Rose or Rose Water, Mint, Sage and or White Sage, Palo Santo sticks, Sandalwood Incense, FrankIncense, Patchouli, Vetiver or Oakmoss, Jasmine flower or Jasmine flower extract, Agarwood (oud)

alot of this stuff you can find in your pantry at home or kitchen cabinets..

 

[Thebes]

There are two chapters in Jason Miller's "The Elements of Spellcrafting" that are relevant and sum up to: "Everything matters" and "Matters does not mean necessary." They are good considerations to start with.

If resources are limited, start with traditions with simpler requirements. Understand the reasons for the chosen ingredients so you can make considered substitutions. There are a lot of good resources out there.

Also look around your area and see what resources you have you may not have realized. Just be extra careful if consuming something if not very experienced.

 

[Lunarscorpio]

Good evening. Yes, material components CAN add a boost to your spells and rituals, as they can help you harmonize with the specific vibrational essence of the planetary or celestial sphere that aligns with your intended work. However, it is not absolutely necessary, and some even say that no physical media are required to work any sort of ritual (just you and your Will alone). A good fictional example of this is the classic film, The Raven. Boris Karloff and Vincent Price have advanced magickal skills and can use Will alone to work their magick, but Peter Lorre has to use physical tools, etc to do his own. It still works, though. Just remember, what is good for the goose sometimes is not good for the gander, and experimentation will give you a better idea of what you need to do your own work. Now, regarding the physical materials. You might want to consult some published tables of correspondences; a classic is Liber 777 though there are many others, and you can no doubt find lists of materia magica online. In regards to substitutions, you need to know the nature of the herb, metal, stone, curio, etc. and how it aligns with the spell. IE: you may see that the metal gold is often listed as a base for solar talismans, yet in today's world, gold is very expensive and most who own some would have it in a safe place and not using it for a magickal artifact (at least, I wouldn't, not in my neighborhood!). However, it is generally agreed upon that you may substitute another surface, say maybe a gold-colored plate, or even yellow-gold paper (like a nice goldenrod). It might not harmonize as well with the Solar sphere but it will still get the job done (especially if you prepare the paper and link it to the Sun via ritual). Knowing the nature of the item will allow you to try and substitute another in its place (or, you can omit it to a possible decrease in the effectiveness of your work, but this is often done when working with older books that ask for inhumane or illegal acts or items in the lists of tools or actions). Maybe someone else here can add more specific details on ritual substitutions?

what are some ways you can link objects to a planet via ritual?

 

[Witch Cat]

what are some ways you can link objects to a planet via ritual?

I use colored cardstock for my talismans, and I first exorcise the paper(s), then using a specially consecrated dip pen, I write the characters prescribed in the Greater Key of Solomon on one corner of the page, followed by the planetary symbol and the Solominic planetary seal (which is usually the first pentacle listed for each planet in the series). I then fumigate the paper with an appropriate incense while reciting a short prayer stating that this paper is now attuned to the sphere of (x), under the rulership of (planetary ruler or archangel), thru the authority and power of God (or whatever source of authority you regularly call upon when working with). I take a dedicated oil blend (made for that specific sphere), dress it in the four corners (starting with upper right, lower right, lower left, upper left, then a final fifth little dab in the center). I breathe onto the paper my statement of intent that this paper is now linked directly to the sphere of (x), do this 3 times total, then I clap my hands and stamp my left foot to close and seal the consecration/dedication. You can use a variation of this for all sorts of objects or artifacts, but the important thing is that, thru your Will, you are modifying the spiritual vibrational frequency of the paper (or whatever) so that it will harmonize with a specific celestial sphere. A warning. Because the spheres do not get along with certain others, you might want to keep dedicated articles separate to avoid negation or corruption (ie, Mars only gets along with Venus, all other planets are antithetical, so keep Martial items away from anything else). The silk used to wrap ritual tools that are purified and prepped for work could help shield the artifacts from impurifications or negative affects on each other, and a similar method may be used if the items cannot be kept apart.

 

[Swampdweller900]

@sloth Good question. I agree that substitutions are fine to a degree, and that in some cases maybe they're not necessary, though I think they're more about symbols of intent that let you sort of add more personal intent to a spell.

My personal philosophy is substitute the same feeling/characteristic item if necessary. For herbs, maybe something in the same family works - tarragon instead of sage. Or something that has similar masculine/feminine attributes. Maybe if you can't find cedar, use rosemary instead.

For other items, look for something that fills the same intent. You need a hair from someone? Well, try a fingernail clipping, or maybe a thread from an article of favored clothing. Things like that. As long as you're putting effort into getting the thing and doing the spell, in my opinion, that's the most important part.