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February 10 through February 16, 2025

We'll be running on high energy the first three days of the week, as the Moon dances through Leo and waxes full on Wednesday. This full Moon in particular opposes the Aquarius Sun, signaling a time of reviewing and releasing anything that stands in the way of our forward progress and dreams. Letting go of outdated ideas, cultivating an open mind, and seeking out new approaches to old problems are a hallmark of this particular full Moon. Our thoughts will turn to detailed projects and organizational methods as the Moon moves through Virgo on Thursday and Friday. Mercury will move into the watery sign of Pisces on Friday, turning our thoughts to the mystical, the magical, and the mysterious as it takes us into a deeper realm of the soul. The weekend unfolds under a lovely Libra Moon, calling for socializing, fun, and restoring balance to our personal worlds.

How and Why to Create Your Own Spellbook, by Deborah Blake

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

For many witches, casting spells is a part of their practice of Witchcraft. It may be a large part, used for anything from prosperity to love to healing, or something that is only pulled out during times of great need. Either way, most witches have at least a few books that contain spells. They might even have a few of mine. (If so, huzzah!)

But there is something to be said for creating your own personal spellbook. This might be a small notebook, or a fancy journal, or even a section in your Book of Shadows if you have one. In this day and age, it might even be a file on your computer, although I find that most of us prefer to have an actual book we can hold in our hands.

Some people are intimidated by the idea of writing their own spells, but I assure you, it isn't that difficult. If you really aren't comfortable doing so, however, you can compile a set of spells written by other folks, whether they are friends you practice with, or witchy authors like me. Pick and choose from all the spells you come across in your journey, and select the ones that you find the most useful, or that you think you might need in the future, or that resonate particularly strongly with your own spiritual inclinations.

Definitely write down any spells you've used that have worked well for you, so you will have them handy if you need them again in the future. I have one particular prosperity spell that I wrote years ago and have reused many times. Although I have written a few others since then, that one is still my favorite.

As wonderful as it is to have a collection of spells written by others, there is something to be said for creating your own. For one thing, a spell you write will say exactly what you want or need it to say. You may have a specific situation or issue that is difficult to find just the right prewritten spell to solve. For instance, there are plenty of spells that help you to find love (although I'm not personally a fan of love spells). But what if you need to find the perfect housemate? Or a new friend? In that case, you might need to write your own spell, or at least modify one you found in a book to suit your own needs.

Writing a spell isn't really difficult, even if you're someone who doesn't like writing in general. After all, they can be short, as simple or as complicated as you wish, and they don't have to rhyme unless you want them to (although it can be fun to do so). Writing a spell yourself also puts that extra bit of your own energy into it, which is never a bad thing when you are doing magic.

I talk all about the basics of writing and casting spells in my book, Llewellyn's Little Book of Spellcraft, because while it isn't hard, you do want to get it right. A spell is a powerful tool, after all, and you don't want to have it go sideways. There are plenty of things to consider before writing or using a spell, including making sure you know what your goal is, whether or not you want to use tools or items to help you focus, deciding if the spell is something short-term or one that you want to repeat every day for a certain span of time, and so on.

There are a few basic dos and don'ts that you want to keep in mind, too, although as with everything else in Witchcraft, not everyone agrees on what these are. For me, the most important aspect of a spell is that it is done for good—to create a positive and beneficial outcome—and that it doesn't interfere with anyone else's free will. As I said, there are those who disagree, and that's fine. But especially if you are just starting out, you will be a lot safer if you stick to this guideline.

You also want to consider your own preferences, needs, and limitations. For instance, if you are really busy and can't spare much time for magical work, you will probably want to stick to spells that are simple and fast to perform. If you are still in the broom closet and share your space with others, you may want to choose spells that don't require anything obviously witchy. Not to worry, though, you can forgo the extras altogether, or simply light a candle. (If you happen to carve magical symbols on the bottom, then stick it into a holder, who is going to know?)

If you are creating your own spellbook and you are relatively new to magical work, or even if you just like to keep all the information you need in one place so it is easy to find (like me), you may want to add a few basics to your book, either with the spells themselves, or at the back or the front. This might include things like quarter calls or god/goddess invocations, magical correspondences for various goals, or even just notes to yourself on what works for you and what doesn't.

Or, if you don't want to make your own book, you can find one that already has those things included, so you don't have to go looking for them. Of course, you can do both—make your own spellbook, and also collect a few written by other people that you can use when you don't have the time and energy to come up with something on your own. Kind of like being a great home cook, but also occasionally getting take-out when you're not in the mood to make something yourself.

The most important thing about a spellbook is that it works for you. Whether you are writing spells or using those written by others, integrating spellwork into your magical practice should help you achieve your goals, empower you, and of course, make you feel like the kick-ass witch you are.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2024. All rights reserved.

I've been having this recurring dream where I'm at my great-aunt's house, and I realize it's time to go home, but I can't for some reason. Sometimes my deceased relatives are there, and sometimes it's just me. I either can't find my suitcase to pack, or the pile of things I need to pack keeps growing the more I put into the suitcase. Sometimes I do get everything packed and my car loaded, but the car won't start. Sometimes the weather is a factor; other times it's the time of day. The only constant detail is I'm in my deceased great-aunt's house and want to get home, but I can't.

I know recurring dreams happen for a reason, but as I've said, in these dreams I've been meeting up with deceased relatives and living friends that I haven't seen since childhood. The deceased are my father, my great-aunt, and sometimes my paternal grandmother. The childhood friends are girls I was close to in elementary school. What could be the reason for all of these meetings all of a sudden? Why does it always take place in that house, and why can't I get home? (What does all this mean?)

~Candy

Dreamchaser:

Candy, thanks for all the helpful detail you provided us about these dreams. First, all of the dead friends and family members you have not seen in a while signify ties to your past that still bind you. The people from the past popping up in your dreams have made you remember them in your waking hours, and you are actually doing some cleansing as a result. You are going back over memories and working through old issues.

You not being at home and wanting to go home suggests that you are not being true to yourself. You are not living the life that you want to live. You are not where you are supposed to be in your life at this point. You MUST move and change. You know this.

The packing of your things suggests that you are trying to keep all your old "stuff," even though it doesn't fit you or your life anymore. This is one reason you can't "get back home." You're trying to hold on to all these old issues from the past, such as personal belongings, memories, emotions and people.

The weather is a symbol of your emotions and how you feel about your life right now. Sometimes your emotions keep you from moving on to a better place.

The car not starting is symbolic of your body. For some reason, your body can't take you where you want to go. I do know that the car (your body) can be fixed. It's time to address any health or fitness issues that are slowing you down.

Dreams are our subconscious mind's way of dealing with what is happening in our lives at a soul level. When we sleep, our soul/ subconscious can FINALLY get to work without that old foe LOGIC popping up and ruining everything.

You really want to change your life, but you feel like the universe is against you. You feel frustrated, hopeless and anxious about going nowhere. You wonder if it will ever really happen and if you can ever be truly happy. Look at what has happened in your life over the past few months since you started to have this dream. What was happening right before it started? You can choose growth and happiness, but you "invent" reasons to stay put. Your dreams are telling you as much.

I wish for you a working "vehicle" and less "baggage."

*****

Astrea:

Your dream is an "anxiety" dream. In your dream you want to go home, but things prevent you from leaving/ getting there. Your location in the dream is probably determined by events in that house when you were little.

This dream means that you don't feel in control of your life, and that you feel other people are trying to dictate what you do. Even your dead relatives are coming to talk with you and advise you. You feel frustrated because you can't even pack; everything seems to be working against what you want to do in that dream.

This is a theme that occurs with many of us when we are feeling like we can't make any decisions for ourselves. Children, parents, husbands, bosses and friends all put demands on our time and energy, and we agreeably go along so that we don't "rock the boat." Everyone likes to be NICE, but when we overdo it, inner resentment builds, and if we don't find some way to get it out, we begin to take it to bed with us. Then it begins to manifest in our dreams, thus interfering with our rest and relaxation, too! If you don't work with this dream, next you may have INSOMNIA, so let's get it up and out of your subconscious NOW!

The quickest and easiest fix for getting rid of an unruly anxiety dream is to put a piece of silverware under your mattress in the upper right (your right if you're lying down) corner of your bed. Knives work best, of course, because they "cut" the dream from your subconscious. Knives also work best for recurring dreams, and since you're having this one over and over, it qualifies.

The knife should ideally be sterling sliver, but I know people who have used stainless steel too. It seems the color silver is what is most important for this "recipe" to work.

Here's the bottom line: you're trying to do TOO MUCH for OTHER PEOPLE, while you do NOTHING for YOURSELF! It sounds to me like you're going to have to try to learn to say "no" to a few things while you're awake and moving through your daily life if you want to get rid of that dream.

Believe me, I know how hard that is to do, but if you don't, the next step could be insomnia. Then you'll be no good to anyone - not even YOURSELF!

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.