Spellcasting and the general population

Inspired by this recent "Dear Abby" column: Abby, find me a spellbook. I'm only going to talk about the spellcasting aspect of the letter (Abby actually did the right thing in advising the letter-writer to focus her energy on helping the daughter get counseling).

As we know, you can cast a spell to make someone else do what you want but chances are that it will either backfire or not work at all. I think what this woman really wants is voodou, which is as valid as any spellcasting, IMO, but which I think is probably more along the lines of what she wants. Plus, is Dear Abby going to mention the threefold rule?

If this woman really wanted to "cast a spell," almost any bookstore carries spellbooks. Some are obviously intended for people like this. They want one spell, usually a love spell, so there's a "kit" with a candle, maybe some ribbon and a little book of some sort with very large type and very few pages.

There are also in-depth books, many general witchcraft and Wicca books which include spells and books that tell you how to write your own spells. You don't have to be a witch to cast a spell. You just have to focus your energy to give you an outcome.

The point is that I never cast a spell until I started studying Wicca and witchcraft. I didn't cast very effective spells until after I initiated. I'm sure that was all about focus and not about being an "official" witch. But I think it's very interesting that anyone and everyone can be very vocal against the occult or witchcraft or voodou or what have you but come time for an effective outcome, so many people think "cast a spell."

Why is the general population so attracted to spells? Are they seen as more powerful (than traditional prayer)? I have a theory: they use "spell" as an emcompassing term meaning spell + ritual.

I admit that when I began practicing, I had a hard time separating spellwork from ritual. I thought they were interchangable terms. I've come to define them for myself like this:

spell: verbal component
ritual: physical component

I cast spells more frequently than I perform rituals. Spells are easily written and easily spoken and require maybe a candle or a bit of rock. The last ritual I performed was a pre-emptive self-healing ritual. I made a healing oil. I conscrated some healing stones (including a necklace). I felt productive, like I had a hand in my fate. I thought that when time came for my operation, I wouldn't feel helpless. I would feel that I had done what I could for myself and that I had called on the deities I believe in for their assistance.

That's the power of spellwork and ritual for me. Control. When I performed traditional prayer, I didn't feel very connected to it. Like I was dropping a penny in a fountain and hoping for the best. Now that my "prayers" take the form of spells, I use the accompanying ritual to see immediate results and to feel like I've accomplished my end of the work, if nothing else.

I never feel "unheard" with spells either. I know that I have put the energy out and that the energy will return in some form. Will it be in the form of what I intended with the spell? It might and it might not. Will I recognize it? Maybe.

I think people want to feel heard, whether it's by their god, their congressman or the clerk at the department store. Maybe they feel that casting a spell will catch the attention of some occultish spirit or the god they believe in (who wouldn't like such things and is forced to notice).

Am I offended when someone wants a quick-fix spell? No. I've made "spell kits" and bought purpose candles for friends who request these items. I don't know what people hope to accomplish with the occasional spell but I can't imagine it's that far off from my intentions. If calling it a "spell" helps someone focus their intent and become mindful of what they ask from the world, then I say cast away.