Composing Magic: How to Create Magical Spells, Rituals, Blessings, Chants, and Prayers
240
Composing Magic: How to Create Magical Spells, Rituals, Blessings, Chants, and Prayers
240Paperback
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Overview
Composing Magic guides you through the exciting realm of magical and spiritual writing. You'll explore the process of writing, its tools and techniques, individual types of composition, and ways of sharing your work with other people.
The book shows you how to write:
- Basic and advanced forms of poetry
- Spells
- Chants and rounds
- Prayers
- Blessings
- Solitary and group rituals
Each type of writing includes its history and uses, which cover diverse traditions. Step-by-step instructions lead you through the creative process, such as how to:
- Brainstorm ideas for a topic
- Choose the right type of composition
- Write a rough draft
- Polish your work to perfection
Examples demonstrate finished compositions of each type, while exercises help you develop your skills by practicing what you've just read. You'll discover that magical writing has more impact when it comes from the heart. Anyone can develop the skills needed to create effective compositions, but the most successful writers reveal their souls.
Composing Magic will also show you ways of deepening your craft through performance and publication. Whether you practice solitary or in a group, this book will help you write with more power, more beauty, and less effort.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781564149350 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Red Wheel/Weiser |
| Publication date: | 06/25/2007 |
| Pages: | 240 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.25(w) x 8.25(h) x (d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
The Basics
There is more to magic words than "abracadabra" and "hocus pocus!" There is more, even, than "please" and "thank you." Words are the medium in which we think, exchange, and preserve our ideas. Sharing words means touching souls — sometimes, changing minds. The right words can lift a heavy heart, bring hope, revive a dream, even draw down the moon to a circle of worshippers. Life is breath, and words are breath given meaning. What could be more magical than that?
In some cases, the power is in the sound; certain terms work almost as a password, granting access to a pool of energy or to mystic knowledge. Names have a similar effect, which is why they are so often kept secret, with titles or kennings — metaphors for magical items or deities — used instead. In other cases, the shape of written words provides the power, such as the triangular "abracadabra" charm, or sight rhymes in poetry. Some ancient prayers and incantations retain their original power, but it is often lost if they become too well-known. Power can even be stolen — or stolen back — with a word, as in the checkered history of "witch." Most of the time however, the magic lies in the meaning rather than the words themselves. The words merely point to the ideas the speaker invokes. What else can the power of words accomplish?
In magical practice, words are tools, as much as the objects on your altar. Words can part barriers and sever bindings, like an athame, and likewise they should be honed to a perfect edge. Words can direct and focus energy, like a wand, and likewise they should be chosen with care to make their point. Words can receive and contain power, like a chalice, and likewise they should be watertight so that nothing leaks out and nothing can breach their wall. Words can ground and stabilize things, like a stone, and likewise they should be solid and weighty. Words can evoke protection and invoke the divine, like a pentacle, and likewise they should weave together in a flawless pattern. Words are your tools. Are you ready to learn how to use them well?
When you think of witches, wizards, and other magical figures of myth and history, they tend to stand out as wise people whose words have an immediate effect on what happens. This holds true whether they are casting a spell, writing a magical inscription, or speaking to other people. Their words shape reality. Now consider some of the magical people you may have met in real life. Chances are, you can recall a powerful ritual, a glorious song, or a sublime blessing. Maybe what comes to mind is a workshop or other presentation in which the speaker held you enchanted for an hour or more. But how did they do all those marvelous things?
The power of such achievements lies not just in individual words and phrases, but primarily in larger pieces such as poems, chants, prayers, and rituals. Magical composition is the art of laying out words in a deliberate pattern to achieve a specific purpose, similar to laying out magical tools on an altar to cast a spell. It's among the most useful abilities for a practitioner to have, because personalized magic is more potent than something generic. Magical composition is what allows practitioners to come up with exactly the right material for the occasion at hand. So how did they learn it?
They learned by practice and study. Some of them had teachers, and others learned on their own through reading and experimentation. These are things you can learn to do too. This book explains how to plan and create spells, blessings, and other works. It describes what magical composition is, how it works, and what you can do with it. Written samples give you a chance to read and analyze what other people have done, and exercises at the end of every chapter encourage you to try new techniques — practice is the best way to improve your skills. Before long, you too will be wielding the power of magic words with confidence!
Bards of Old — and New
Throughout history, people especially skilled with the magic of words have held prominent positions in many different cultures. All religions, of course, have their own clergy: Priests and priestesses customarily handle prayers, blessings, and spiritual ceremonies. Wizards and other magical practitioners may cast spells and work mystical rituals. But there are always a few special people who draw their power from words — who compose the poetry, the chants, the legends, and the magical songs, passing them along to others as well.
The Greek tradition of rhapsodes dates back to classical antiquity. Clad in their distinctive traveling cloaks (which remain visible on some Greek artifacts), they journeyed from town to town, reciting the educational verses of Hesiod, the epics of Homer, and the satires of Archilochus, among others. Their influence on the sacred pageantry of ancient Greece still echoes in modern rituals of the grand, formal, public sort. Another symbol associated with rhapsodes is the wand, representing their right to speak before an audience.
The Celts were famous for their bards, who thrived from ancient times well into the medieval period. They composed poems in honor of their royal patrons and eulogies on the death of lords and heroes. They also devised piercing satires of wicked or miserly people. It was said that a bard's song could charm birds and beasts, sometimes even the weather. People welcomed them because they carried news and messages too. Bards carried a gold or silver branch as a symbol of their authority. The bards, Ovates, and Druids formed three branches of the educated populace. Although the Druids in particular were persecuted, the bards survived longer, bequeathing a tradition of Scottish, Welsh, and Irish harpers that continues to this day.
During medieval times, Scandinavia and Iceland had skalds. These great warrior-poets traveled from country to country as the guests — and sometimes counselors — of kings. They composed and transmitted the Old Norse legends and poetry, particularly the Eddas. Many of their poems were originally magical. Their songs, stories, memorials, and testimonials recorded battles, marriages, and other historic occasions. They were especially known for their kennings. Knowledge of the kennings was an important sign of mystical education. Much of what we know of Viking culture comes down from the skalds, and their material still appears in some college classes.
In West Africa, there live the Griots. These storytellers specialize in the history, genealogy, and oral tradition of a specific village or an important family. They are poets, singers, and musicians belonging to a special caste and clan of their own, rarely marrying outside it. In most West African societies, only a Griot may perform the duties of a Griot; such things are forbidden to other people. Although the height of their service has passed, oral tradition being challenged as more people become literate, there are still Griots in some parts of Africa today.
So the roots of magical and spiritual writing run deep. The lines between song and spell, poem and prayer, theater and ritual, and even myth and history, are not always sharply defined. The traditions of word magic are ancient and widespread, and they continue to influence the modern world.
What we think of as "contemporary Pagan culture" dates back several decades — a mere sliver of time compared to that occupied by our predecessors. Yet although the forms and context may have changed, the basic concepts have not. By whatever name, the bards of today serve much the same purpose as in the past. We still hail our heroes, mock the arrogant, beseech the divine, praise the beautiful, and coax the world to shape itself according to our will. We still teach our children with story and rhyme. The drummer who leads the chanting around the fire circle, the priestess who orchestrates the main ritual, the poet whose verses appear in print, the guitarist who sings of gods and goddesses, the Pagan radio host, the Webwizard designing a coven home page: These are our modern bards.
Times change, and we change with them. To the old we have added whole new options: public festivals and open rituals with attendees from all over the globe; Pagan magazines, novels, and nonfiction books; recordings of songs, chants, meditations, and more; radio, television, and movies; even the Internet. And that's the way it has always been, for the craft of bards — old and new, by this name or any other — depends on taking all the threads handed down from past masters and weaving them into a tapestry of words meaningful to the present audience. (You can especially see this process in movies, given the Hollywood fixation on remakes and sequels.)
This is the tradition you join when you take up magical composition. Feel free to draw from it, add to it, or even play with it. Your predecessors certainly did.
The Essentials of Magical Composition
Literature appears in all mystical and spiritual traditions, around the world, and throughout time. Whether in text or oral tradition, magical composition frames the core ideas of a system so that they can be shared. People use poetry to stir the spirit, and spells to improve their lives. They use chants to raise and direct energy. They use rituals to celebrate the seasons, mark turning points in their lives, and recount myths and legends in sacred theatre.
This book focuses mainly on spellcraft and spirituality of the eclectic Pagan sort, but remember that you can use the same techniques in other contexts as well. Magical composition adapts to any system or situation. Likewise, the spoken and written word are simply two different aspects of the same thing. Composing magic does not necessarily mean writing it down — for example, chants are often created spontaneously, out loud — but writing it down offers a convenient form of long-term storage. The basic process of composition remains the same, no matter which magical or spiritual tradition you belong to, whether you compose by speaking out loud, writing, or typing. Experiment to see what works best for you.
There are three basic applications of magical composition. The first is personal use. You can keep it strictly for yourself, using your work only in solitary spells or ceremonies. Poetry works well as a mnemonic device for making facts easier to recall. Prayers are always heard by the one(s) to whom they are addressed, even if not spoken aloud; so you don't necessarily have to be alone to be "private" in application.
The second is semi-private use. This covers small rituals held with family or friends. With just a few familiar faces, stage fright poses much less of a threat, and a good writer is a treasure for any ceremonial group lucky enough to have one. Many folks never go farther than this to share their magical composition, and that's fine.
The third is public use, and here things get a bit more complicated, because there are many ways to make your writing "public." You might publish it in magical magazines or other venues. You could incorporate a blessing into a large ceremony at a festival, or design an open ritual held for public enlightenment and enjoyment. You may record songs, chants, or poetry on CDs, cassette tapes, or other formats.
No matter what format you choose, or what use you intend for your work, all three applications derive from one source. The process of magical composition remains the same for all. First you decide what you want to create, next you do background preparation, then you write a rough draft, and finally you polish it. Chapter Two presents these steps in detail; subsequent chapters explain how to apply them to different types of magical composition.
Although the process of composition and presentation can feel rather nerve-wracking for some folks, sharing your work with an audience holds great rewards. First, you honor your muse and your divine patrons by using your gifts, which encourages them to give you even more. Second, audience interaction and feedback can help you hone your skills. Applause feels good, and you may gain respect as your reputation grows. Finally, if you discover a true talent for magical composition, you may sell some of your work, win writing contests, or get invited to an event as a guest of honor. None of these things will happen if you write only in your secret Book of Shadows, so dare to share.
Don't Panic, This Is Easier Than It Looks!
Magical composition need not be brilliant to be effective, especially in private or semi-private applications. Let me emphasize this: You do not have to write like Starhawk or Walt Whitman in order to create effective rituals, spells, and magical poetry. It's nice if you can, but it's not essential. Don't put a stop to your writing before you start, just because you don't feel that you can measure up.
Worth mentioning is that very few people have all the qualities of a great writer and performer, especially not at a universally high level of development. Most are skilled at some things and not so skilled at others. The legendary writers and performers tend to excel in one or several areas to the point that nobody notices the stuff they do less well. This book will help you figure out your strengths and emphasize those, while downplaying your weaknesses.
You should always write to the best of your ability. You and the universe know what that is, at any given time, so to do less is insulting to both. Whatever your best is, that's good enough. Most professional fiction authors wholly or mainly aim at entertainment, which makes technical quality crucial; but in our case, it's the function we care about the most. A fancy aluminum watering can may look nicer, but a wooden bucket will still get the job done. So it is with magical composition: A competently written, heartfelt blessing will serve the purpose, and indeed is likely to work better than a brilliantly written but halfhearted one.
Here we focus on relatively short pieces of magical composition, less daunting than a whole novel or nonfiction book. The shortest of these items, such as chants, may run only a few lines; a complete ritual usually fills several pages. They are also more active than ordinary literature — you cast a spell to alter reality, chant to raise power, and so forth. Therefore, such magical compositions are more often performed aloud rather than read silently off a page.
Because the ear can be more forgiving than the eye — and because a performance gets people caught up in the cadence — you can get away with things such as near rhymes and extra syllables in a poem or song, as long as the result sounds good. Repetition in text seems dull, but in a story or ceremony it helps people feel secure; they know some of what's coming, without spoiling the climactic moments. Think of how things come in threes in a European fairytale, or in fours in Native American legends; the same pattern tends to hold true in rituals for each of those cultures. Conversely, some people learn better by reading than by listening; in that case writing down a song, blessing, or other piece of magical composition can make it easier for you to share your work and keep track of what you're creating.
You may worry that you "don't have the talent" for magical composition. Talent is an innate ability, particularly a creative or artistic aptitude. However, it does no good unless developed, and it makes up only part of the equation. The other part is skill: the ability to use knowledge effectively, which is an acquired aptitude. Talent is something you're born with, as much a gift as a sprinter's speed or a musician's perfect pitch. Skill is something you develop yourself, similar to a musician's repertoire of tunes. Talent without skill won't get very far, for lack of direction. Skill without talent can accomplish a fair amount, because some tasks simply aren't very demanding; and skill with even a little talent can accomplish a lot. You can find ways of using one to compensate for lack of the other throughout this book.
Many aspects of magical composition relate to skill, and thus can be taught and learned. Theory, for instance, explains what makes a piece of writing work and why it works — or why it doesn't work, if it's a bad example. We've just covered a little of that and will get into more in later chapters. Writing techniques are the "tools" of composition. They include such things as rhyme, meter, alliteration, imagery, symbolism, word choice, and organization. These usually come with specific definitions and examples. It's possible to create a technically flawless ritual that has no punch to it whatsoever, just as it's possible to create a technically imperfect ritual that raises tremendous power. However, it is much easier to create a powerful ritual if you understand the tools and theory of ritual design! If you can read, and you're willing to put in some practice time, then you can learn to write effective rituals, chants, spells, and other magical material.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Composing Magic"
by .
Copyright © 2007 Elizabeth Barrette.
Excerpted by permission of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Praise,
Title Page,
Copyright Page,
Dedication,
Acknowledgements,
Foreword,
Preface:,
Chapter One: - The Basics,
Chapter Two: - The Writing Process,
Chapter Three: - Writing Tools and Techniques,
Chapter Four: - Making Magical Poetry—Basic Forms,
Chapter Five: - Making Magical Poetry—Additional Forms,
Chapter Six: - Spinning Special Spells,
Chapter Seven: - Creating Colorful Chants,
Chapter Eight: - Preparing Powerful Prayers,
Chapter Nine: - Bestowing Beautiful Blessings,
Chapter Ten: - Writing Wonderful Rituals—The Parts,
Chapter Eleven: - Writing Wonderful Rituals—The Process,
Chapter Twelve: - Sharing Your Work,
Afterword:,
Notes,
Bibliography,
About the Author,