What exactly is the purpose of incantation exactly? I have narrowed it down to two possibilities: since everything contains the energy, even words, it is simply extra energy in a spell with the task of the energy chosen by what is said OR words that use their energy to help the witch raise and enchant/tune their own personal power and the power around them in a spell (or in most cases, inside a magic circle). Please answer with some explanation, thanks!:D
More that second one. An incantation is generally meant to focus your will and intent. There are words of inherent power, to be sure, but mostly it is there to put you in the correct state of mind. This is one of the reasons many incantations have poetic qualities in rhythm and rhyme as well as powerful imagery.
Re: Purpose of Incantation? By: Vanitys_Fire / Knowledgeable
Post # 3 Mar 27, 2012
Nicely said Chiron. Though I must add that any word can be a word of power. On it's own it has power even though it may not be much. But when words are combined into sentences and we make spells this is where they are words of power as you describe. But really it's the person chanting the incantation that gives the words power that helps guide and aid the energy put out in the direction that you intent as spoken by your words of will. Whether in rhyme or not is up to the writer of the incantation. It's really a matter of what works for you best when writing.
So the usual purpose of an incantation is basically enchantment? Like charging an object with intent, only using words that carry the energy, rather then holding the object and visualization?
An incantation is typically a spell, sometimes in the form of a song, perhaps that encourages focus of will, intent, etc. The words said are usually relevant to the spell/ritual/other that is being preformed.
Some people prefer to chant and incantation in their head rather than out loud, more so when preforming an individual ritual, or spell, etc.
However others feel that in chanting such out loud it gives a sort of empowerment and clarity.
Vanity and Chiron covered it decently.
If you enjoy incantations and such, you may enjoy galdr (especially if you like runes), a variation of Norse magic, which involves singing spells, used often in runic work. It is a literal singing of the runes, phonetically, in this case. Eg:
Jera (a rune)
jera jera jera
j j j e e e r r r a a a
j j j j j j j j j
ju ja ji je jo
j j j e e e r r r a a a
''Galdr, in a sense, tends to accentuate growth of will and of conscious control of the self through analytical symbols of communication.'' This is a definition I found from a channel on YouTube, AllThingsFuthark.
Okay, thank you all. Now would you believe this is an accurate definition, and if you see any edits, please feel free!
Incantation: A set of words, chants, or songs that is given the power, by the casters intent, to help raise and direct energy . What is visualized and said are the ways the Mana is manipulated. They are not required, but not only is it a way to transfer intent, but it puts the caster in the correct state of mind. They are tools, just like an athame, used to direct energy.
I'm putting this into my BOS, but also my mind seems just not to get it for some reason. All the help possible will ease me! Thanks!:D
Re: Purpose of Incantation? By: NOVUMPACEM / Novice
Post # 7 Mar 31, 2012
It is actually both reasons. Words are a way of directing energy but they are also energy. We use language everyday for nearly everything yet we rarely understand its importance and power. Many cultures like the Aborigines of Australia and the Norse rune casters saw the power of spoken word. There are many myths from all over the world of how the Gods blessed humanity with language. Songs were sang as spells and the sounds of the primordial energies were identified. Many rune casters use galdr which is spoken rune magic with the intent of bringing the energy of a specific rune into their life.