Hello, if there is a spell that could help someone, do you talk them about it and then with their permission do the spell by yourself or with the person who the spell is for?
I read that spell work should be done in secret or with your coven so I wasn’t sure how that worked.
Thank you for any information.
Peace and Light
Hello @Wendy112,
That’s a great question! The answer is going to depend on your personal casting ethics. This is because ethics (aka what you believe is “right” or “wrong” to do in magick) can vary depending on the individual and the path they follow.
For example, someone who follows a Wiccan path may follow the Wiccan Rede: “An harm ye none, do what ye will”. This is often interpreted to mean that, so long as your magick does not intend to harm, you are free to cast however you please, with or without permission from the recipient.
That being said, some witches believe it is important to ask permission before casting on someone, even if it a positive or helpful spell. Other witches may choose to seek permission from deities or divine forces and leave the spell results up to Their decision. Yet other witches may believe it’s fine to cast on others without needing permission.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you (and any rules of a tradition if you follow one) to set your personal magickal ethics and decide what feels right for you 
I’ve heard this belief before - I think it’s following the same idea as not sharing wishes when someone blows out cake candles on their birthday, lest the wish not come true. Some covens and traditions may follow this practice, but it’s certainly not the only way!
Here in the forum, you’ll find many people who are very open with their spellwork. We share spells, recipes, ritual experiences, and more in the name of passing along wisdom and helping one another. In my years of experience, I don’t think sharing or not sharing has any effect on whether the spell works or not. Plenty of the spells I’ve shared pre-spellwork, mid-process, and post-spellwork worked just fine. In fact, sometimes the tips or advice I got from others helped me cast better and improved the experience 
I’d encourage you to try different things and see what works best for you and your beliefs, Wendy! 
Happy casting and blessed be 
This is a great question, Wendy!
I’m going to echo everything @BryWisteria said – it’s all personal preference and belief.
I also want to add that, from my understanding, the belief that spells should be cast in secret or only with your coven comes from years of witchcraft being illegal or persecuted. It was less about protecting the spell and more about protecting yourself and your coven.
That’s not to say that there’s no merit to the belief that one shouldn’t speak about their spellwork. Some people believe that others can influence their spells if they speak about them or share them before they’ve manifested. However, this is all going to depend on the witch’s beliefs.
In the end, the decision is entirely yours!
In my practice, I don’t always ask people to work magic for them. If they’re my good friends, I know whether or not they would be okay with this, and I respect their boundaries either way.
If I do talk to them about it, it’s usually to get more information so I can be specific, or ot ask what their desired outcome is. My close friends aren’t practicing witches, though I’m sure if I asked if they’d like to participate, they’d be open to it. However, I usually work magic on my own.
Thank you for this information and insight it is super helpful.
Thank you for the personal insight with your friends. 
You’re very welcome! 
I hope you can find an answer that works for you.
Hi there Doll! Bry and Megan gave you some great advice I’ll add that what I do if I don’t want to tell the person is I’ll add the clause along the lines “may this spell not hurt them or go against their own free will” Or something like that, So that we don’t go against the Wiccan Rede! 
If you know someone who is willing to work the spell with you, that’s so cool! I personally know no one who would try it outside the forum coven, here.
An old cautionary tale from the late 1980’s, early 1990’s posited that one reason we keep our spell work silent is that if someone hears about it, they can work against it. Some can get so impatient they may cast doubt upon the process, which can eat at your self confidence long after the initial comment and proof to the contrary of the doubt. These were the type of people I knew. Blurred to retain confidence of those who may be shaky at the moment. Their favorite comment has been to wish in one hand and poo in the other and see which hand fills first. I always knew the wish would come true first because I had IBS-C from a very young age.
Overall, I share here in perfect trust that any differences between any of us can be worked out in a mundane manner. I do not share anywhere else. Magick is a treasure I do not place before pigs because the pigs will trample the treasure into the mud, and it will be lost. This could be a reference to previous experience hanging on beyond its value, a personal issue I need to grow out of, or a lack of trust in the world in general. Do what you feel works for you.
Great idea
This is a great point of view to consider for sure. Thank you for sharing that perspective.
You’re welcome, @Wendy112! Good luck and happy casting
Hi @Wendy112 
I agree that these beliefs stemmed from a historical time, at the same time, I don’t think the world is as open and kind to “our people” as we would like. Whilst it would be kinda cool to do a spell with a muggle-friend, try to take into account their energy and intentions, which may affect the spell; what someone says, and what someone thinks and/or feels, are not always the same.
Personally, because all of my real world friends and family are Christian, I don’t cast spells on anyone. However, I do send energy healing to my family daily, with the belief and statement that any energy which is not wanted or needed by that person, be redirected to someone who needs and wants it or its returned to Spirit.
x Blessed Be x
Thank you for this information. My tribe is not of any faith or religion and a few are very curious about paganism/wicca and other forms of worship. I’m very blessed in this respect and being new at this it’s nice to share my new knowledge with my immediate tribe.