Do Wiccans/Witches cast spells and what is magick?
Magick with a K is the manipulation of energy, energy that comes from the Universe. Energy resides in everything and everyone, and it takes the trained mind to channel and direct energies to a desired end. One can use tools and physical objects to represent what the magician wants to happen (like sympathetic magick). For instance, one could use candles, one to represent the practitioner, one to represent a mystery person, and bring them closer together every day with a ritual to make a "love spell." The idea is that the practitioner is bringing love closer towards them. People use tools and objects in spells and magick for a few reasons. One, the tools have an energy of their own, especially gems and crystals. A person can also "charge" or fill the tool with his or her own energy and essence for easier and better use. Two, people create blocks in their subconscious, that are rather difficult to explain. People have been told their whole lives magick isn’t real and suddenly reading that through thoughts alone one can perform magick doesn’t remove that block. It takes years of practice and convincing to get past the programming. Tools signal to the subconscious that a magickal working is about to take place, and they also work as a visual to channel the energies. Another form of magick is sans tools. Wish spells are an example, where one simply "wishes" something over and over. Blowing out birthday candles is a successor of wish spells that may include candles. Praying is another form of a wish spell, where one attempts to focus their energy into the Divine for a desired end.
PLEASE READ THIS: #1. Witches and Wiccans do NOT trade spells expect for between trusted friends for many reasons. Read this article about spell giving. #2. Spell-casting is not exempt from The Rede and Law of Three. Revenge or negative curses should not be used in magick for many reasons. For one, Karma could bite you back; two, doing negative magick brings negative entities and energies towards you.; three, spells and magick done with anger often go wrong because the practitioner tends to be in a hysteric/non-thinking state when performed. #3. Love spells are considered a gigantic no-no because it goes against free will. Attempting to trap someone for one's own selfish needs is against everything pagans believe in. Drawing love towards oneself, however, with no specific person in mind, is fine.
