Magick That Needs A Warning Label

Trying out new forms of magick is fun – especially if you follow an eclectic path. But not all magickal practices are made equal. Some really should come with a warning label. That’s where we come in! The following practices should be done with caution.

 

Fae Magick

While working with the fae (or fairies) can be a pleasant and playful experience, it should come with a gentle warning. Their playfulness can mean that you get more than you bargained for. Humans have believed in and worked with fairies for centuries, with some of the oldest legends coming from ancient Celtic people. Other legends, however, say that fairies are ancestral ghosts, nature spirits, half-monster shape-shifting creatures, or even fallen angels. 

Fairies are generally seen as nature spirits who are drawn to particular types of nature – a stream, the forest, and so forth. They tend to love shiny objects, and some witches create tiny homes or altars for them, decorated with fruits, honey, or other sweet treats. 

Call on fairies to help you find lost objects, to add magick to healing rituals and abundance spells, or to protect your home. Just don’t do so without leaving them an offering. Otherwise, they may not help. If you choose to work with leprechauns – another type of fae folk – beware! He might bring you good luck but may times, the wishes he grants you are meant to be a trick. The best way to work with one is to ask for help in protecting your money or helping you stick to a budget.

 

Dream Magick

It can be fun to practice lucid dreaming. The warnings here don’t involve losing your soul or anything that terrifying. Instead, it’s a good idea to use caution when practicing such dream magick as it can start to feel better than being in the real world. Some people have experienced dissociative tendencies after working in the dream space or astral realm. Now, that’s not to say that you shouldn’t do it. Being able to dream lucidly can be deeply empowering. Just start slowly and give yourself breaks – you wouldn’t want to attempt a lucid dream every night if you have never done it before. 

Also, lucid dreaming can decrease your sleep quality because it’s not the most restful way to sleep. Another thing to look out for is “dream claustrophobia,” which is when you become aware that you’re dreaming, but you can’t change the plotline or wake up from it. It can be a little scary. 

 

Necromancy

Necromancy is the magick of working with the dead. Sometimes, this may involve reaching out to your ancestors, but that isn’t always the case. Necromancy dates to ancient times. Back then, the practice was used to help gain insight into an event or achieve a difficult task. Today, the practice can involve these motivations, protection, or may involve some graveyard magick. 

It was once believed that the most potent spirits of the dead were those who suffered an untimely or violent death. If you ask me, intentionally reaching out to a spirit who died violently or before their time is setting yourself up for results you didn’t intend on. These days, experts in necromancy and ancestral magick suggest approaching the practice carefully. Always ground yourself and cast a protective circle before engaging with the dead. And remember, if you choose to use necromancy to communicate with your ancestors, be very specific about who you want to address. Not all of our ancestors were good people. Finally, if your necromancy takes you to a graveyard, be sure to adhere to both mundane rules and magickal guidelines while there. Grove and Grotto has an excellent guide on graveyard magick here.

 

Money Magick

Casting money spells can be tempting! But as you do so, be sure to be very specific about how you want that money to come to you. For instance, if you state that you want a raise at work, you’re probably in good shape. If you just focus on a sum without a source, you’re opening yourself to all kinds of possibilities. Remember, money comes from insurance settlements from accidents, inheritances from deceased loved ones, and malpractice settlements from botched medical procedures.

 

Love Magick

The Genie from Disney’s original “Aladdin” had something right: his rule number two was, “I can’t make anybody fall in love with anybody else.” Love magick works that way, too. Anytime there’s free will involved, there’s only so much you can do as a witch. You can’t affect someone else’s free will, and you really shouldn’t. Consent is sexy, after all! That said, with a consenting partner, love, lust, and sex magick can be fun! And self-love magick in the form of ritual baths and massage is always a good idea.

 

New Deities

Deities are interesting entities. Sometimes, they will call to you, or you’ll suddenly have a deep interest in them. My fascination with Athena stretches back to fifth grade when I worked on a project about the Greek gods and goddesses. Recently, Inanna has been popping up in my life. Whenever you begin calling on new deities, it’s important to learn about them. Simply calling on them or following them blindly can leave you unfulfilled or – in the case of trickster deities – might cause more harm than good in your life. Always approach a new deity with respect and patience. These are ancient beings and energies, so time means something different to them.