This is great information for me because I haven’t cast any spells, really. I was wondering the other day if when you cast a spell, say a banishing spell, do your crystals, incense, candles, etc., all have to do with banishing? Say I was banishing a bad habit could I put on my altar something for strength or confidence? This is really confusing. Or is that 2 different spells?
Signed, Confused Baby Witch
9 Likes
Hi Christine! I hope you don’t mind but I moved your post into its own topic so it doesn’t get lost in the replies of the other topic. This way, more people are likely to see your post!
As for your question, in my practice, not everything has to do with banishing. You gave a great example there, actually. If you’re getting rid of a bad habit, it’s perfectly fine to do a banishing spell but also include ingredients in your spell for courage or willpower. Those are all components of healthy habits, in my opinion, so that’s perfectly fine.
Oftentimes, I will combine different herbs and spell tools that I work with for many different reasons. Say I’m creating a spell jar for protection. I could include some of these items…
salt for protection
shiny objects to attract the threat to the jar instead of me
a piece of myself (called a taglock) to act as a decoy
rusty nails or sharp things to trap the threat
Everything here has a very general association with protection but they all have very specific purposes.
I hope that makes sense!
9 Likes
Thank you Megan, and no I don’t mind at all! The more input the better to clear the confusion!
I like everything that has to do with spell casting! I want to be able to incorporate crystals, herbs, and candles. And say I’m working with the herbs for a spell. Do I burn the herbs, put them in a jar, make an oil, or do I just sprinkle them around? Because when I look up different spells I’d either have some of the ingredients or none at all, so I’m thinking making up my own would be better so I can use what I have on hand now, so at least I can practice. You know what I mean?
And also, even if I don’t have any of the ingredients, could my intentions be enough?
7 Likes
I do the same types of things, I may put something in that is specifically for banishing but I will add protection types of items or strength items in the same way that @MeganB has outlined. I write out very specific intentions for each ingredient when I make note of the spell.
I would like to mention that it is your spell & if you feel like putting something in there for an association to do with the situation at hand or subject of the spell, feel free to do so. By doing so you are using your intuition on what will work for you in the best way. 
7 Likes
I’ll answer your question in parts 
This depends entirely on the spell! Some methods of working magic will call for different actions. Burning the herbs could work for banishing or sending the energy out into the world. Putting the herbs in a spell jar could help with attracting things to you as you charge the jar regularly. An oil is used to anoint candles or yourself, and that can be used for pretty much any type of spell. Sprinkling them around can be used for attraction, banishing, or protection.
There’s really no limit, in my opinion, to how herbs or other tools are worked with in your magical practice.
This depends on many things. In my practice, the tools (herbs, crystals, etc.) that I work with are there to help direct the energy of my intention or literally help by adding energy to the spell. I’m an animist, so I work with herbs and crystals rather than use them. That’s a different conversation, though. Anyway, I don’t think intention is enough in spells. It is a necessary foundational component, but unless you have mastered energy work and feel confident enough in your own energy raising and releasing, intention isn’t going to be enough.
However, that isn’t to say you can’t try. Intention is like the why behind what you’re doing. It’s great and you have to have it, but you have to have an action to back up the reason. This action could simply be raising and releasing energy in dance or music, but the action needs to be there.
I hope that makes sense. It can get a bit confusing and I don’t explain it enough to have a perfect answer 
I’d also like to echo what Siofra has said.
Unless you’re working in a specific tradition that has specific rules, most correspondences are either intuitive, come from the Doctrine of Signatures, or created based on personal associations that have just stuck. For me, I use a lot of intuition but also communication with the plant spirits. As an animist, if that particular plant doesn’t want to help me, I won’t ask them to and I will leave them out of my spell.
8 Likes
Ok. I get it. It’s not easy, but at least I understand more. So basically I can use any ingredient that corresponds with what I’m doing and each thing I use needs to have an intention behind it. So whipping up a spell really isn’t possible because it takes a lot of thought and planning, and learning about each item and what everything means.
7 Likes
Thank you! There is so much to learn. This is really huge and far reaching!
7 Likes
Basically, I’m going to be a baby witch for the rest of my life:) Lol
7 Likes
Not at all! 
take small steps at first. It will get easier & you will get better the more you practice. & it won’t take as long as you think either.
Please don’t be like me & try to learn everything at once, you will hit a wall & burn out sooner or later. It happened to me twice before I figured it out 
Go at your own pace. 
8 Likes
That’s easier said than done! I keep telling myself to calm down but I feel like I have wasted so much time, so now I feel hurried to catch up. I was guided here to learn something and I’m eager to find it. Haha
8 Likes
yup that is me too. So, that being said, I have anxiety that can also get involved in these types of situations. I started using 10 minute guided meditations for calm, anti-anxiety, starting the day, letting go, connecting with my deities each day. It really helped me organize what it was that I wanted to do & at the time I was so eager to learn, that initially, I was doing them to just… slow down a little bit. (Also, easier said than done)
However your journey unfolds, we are here to help you along the way.
8 Likes
Actually no! You can easily whip up whatever you need using your intuition and what you already have around you!
A good book for using your intuition to guide you, especially if you’ve never done it before, is Intuitive Witchcraft by Astrea Taylor. Definitely recommend that one
8 Likes
@christine13 , the Spells8 courses are a great place to start. I think of it as being a lot like school. The courses provide a great general education, from which you will pursue in depth that the subjects that you are drawn to. Your knowledge and skill begin to layer. Unlike school, there is no pressure to graduate because your learning never stops. Your learning eventually transitions from basic understanding to research. And please do not feel like you have to rush out and buy every type of witch tools. Pace yourself. Make or grow them if you can, upgrade them as you can and wish. Using the school analogy, I’m learning about astrology, intuition (tough for me as a male…or maybe just me) and crystals. In a later “term,” I may study oils more. And I have placed myself on a budget for witchy purchases. My daily practices include reading, candle magic and rituals, and being intentional - mindfully aware of what I’m doing, like intentionally stirring my coffee clockwise. Your practice, pace and your path are unique to you. Don’t fret about it.
8 Likes
@christine13 good morning. You are in the right place to learn. I understand the desire to learn everything and how confusing it all can be. Everyone was new at some point. As suggested the courses are a great place to start. It will give you some basics to get you started. In the mean time if you have a spell in mind that you need help with I’m happy to lend a hand. Or if there is something you feel you NEED to do but don’t know how feel free to message me. Maybe I can help.
8 Likes
I’ll definitely check out that book!
7 Likes
Yes, the courses are great, I’ve already finished a few of them. It’s just that part of putting what and what together to make it whole was a bit confusing to me. It’s a lot of research to figure out what herb, crystal, or candle to work with because they all have there own meaning and purpose. So I definitely need the reading, the visuals, and the hands on learning for things to actually make sense to me. And definitely try to take my time to just learn, and that’s a process in itself.
7 Likes
I would definitely recommend participating in the weekly challenges. It’s an easy way to focus & learn different aspects to see what resonates with you & your path.
6 Likes
Well, it’s kind of like cooking. You didn’t always know what ingredients go well together. Over time you learn not to put onions in your ice cream! (Okay, maybe that was just me…jk) Read a little, try simple spells with herbs you already have and before you realize it, you’ll just know and will be writing your own spells.
Edit: I was curious and yes…there are recipes for Carmelized Onion Ice Cream.
6 Likes
Well, I have a bad habit I would like to break the cycle of. So I figured a banishing spell would be the right way to go about it. The tools would be a black candle. I looked up banishing herbs and I have many of those, I just don’t know what to do with the herbs, but now I know I can sprinkle them on my altar around the candle? For crystals I chose lava stone for strength, courage, and grounding. Tiger’s eye for protection and personal power, and clear quartz for healing. And a sandalwood incense for calming. Now I just need to write the spell. Right?
6 Likes
Don’t think I’ll be trying caramelized onion ice cream anytime soon, but definitely caramelized onions on a burger!
6 Likes