Lack of items for spells

Can one perform a spell without the items needed? Can one "reforge" the spell to do so? Dose it take a amount of mastery to do so?


Ever questioning, Still believing
~Piecemeal

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This thread has been moved to Other Spells Discussion from General Info.

For me personally, the only ingrediants I ever use are in medicine bags. A friend in Florida who mixes potions and is also a Chef says that Cooking up a Spell is like Cooking up a feast. Sometimes she would substitute a similar sprig / spice or leave it out but other times it had to be exact ingredients or would not turn out right. It just depends how key the ingredient is to the overall effect or power of the spell / taste or turn out of the dish.

Honestly, if you are going to "reforge" a spell, you might as well just write your own. I'm a firm believer in good spells being written in a balanced sense. Just because you don't understand the meaning of every part of it, doesn't mean it isn't there. You can substitute some things if you know what they represent. When I write spells, I always include what each part symbolizes so that I can do substitutions if necessary down the road. Tools (candles, wand, knife, etc) can always be substituted and sometimes entirely excluded. But ingredients like herbs and stones in many traditions have a spirit of their own and that is believed to help facilitate your spell.

You made me giggle at "mastery". Too many video games Piecemeal. ;p

Not games per say most likely books. just I have been told im a bit off with my words. I met if there was a skill element, but i have been enlightened a bit. Thanks for all the info everyone =)

As its been said you can substitute one or two if they have similar qualities and/or you have a closer connection with the item in question [I tend to add cinnamon to most spells for this reason] but if you don't have any of the items, just write your own. Ingredients for spells are chosen for a reason, as well as the number of items [3, 7, 9, 13 are some common number pairings with magick] so if a luck spell calls for 7 items but you only have 6, this could effect the spell so try to keep the number the same if its important.

It doesn't take much skill, but you need knowledge, as said above, knowing the item and why its used is important to cast a successful spell just as visualization and energy is important. Before casting a spell, try researching the items to understand why they are in the spell so when you use it you can reflect on why it is needed.

If you are missing one thing you can substitute it, like you don't have a blue candle, white works, or you don't have a wand you can use an athame. For herbs, crystals or incense I would find one with the same qualities [luck, protection, clairvoyance]