I just posted a message in which I described my occasional need to get up and do something; a spell, a ritual, a working - something.

Although I know the tricks and the reasoning behind a lot of folk magic; where things go, what they do, why you do them - I'm not generally a planner. If there's something really important to me, when I know I have to do something, I begin...and something else takes over. Something tells me what to do, what to use, what matters, what doesn't and everything necessary to bring about the desired result. I don't think this is an unusual thing - many witches in cultures from South America to Eastern Europe claim the wind taught them. Some do it to hide their true teacher - others it's an integral part of their cultural rituals of being a witch: go learn something from the hills. This thing teaches me as much as it instructs me. It gives me ideas, explains things sometimes and just takes me over when I'm in a fervour and need to act.

I certainly wouldn't call it a possession. Not sure I'd even call it a spirit as such - not one entity, or even a voice. It just is. Sometimes it's inside my head, sometimes I ast like fluid in a bowl. Perhaps it's personal gnosis?

Anyone else get this? Perhaps it's my alter ego lol But I don't think so. Perhaps it's the spell speaking itself.

This one particularly made me think as it involved a sharp object. This spell joins two people. As I was putting it into its carry container, the sharp object pricked me. When I gave it to the intended user, it was put in their pocket and later the sharp object broke through its container and pricked the receiver requiring us to wax it safe again.

For all the world this spell came alive. It was completing itself in a way I could not have. I found myself pondering this quite deeply - as it was a spell brought about by my necessity to do something but the skill was not entirely my own. I could have done it myself, but in its own making there is another element - something more than I could have made it alone.

I just find it rather interesting and can't believe I'm alone in such experiences? Who speaks behind the spell?

This is not in answer to the 'compulsion' question. I was cuing on the 'trajectory' (if you will) of spell work. I've got the 'flu so this will be very inarticulate and the subject matter doesn't help .

I mentioned earlier that a particular area of study for me are Liminal zones. In regards to spells, I believe that a lot takes place in that space you so wonderfully called " The bit between here and there" because what's in those 'bits' is, in my beliefs, are what will dictate the motion, direction and action of the spell. This is one reason I'm always suggesting to people that they limit the number of people involved as it adds more 'bits', more spaces for whatever action is happening thus multiplying effects for good, bad or totally unexpected. I know that for some people, they see : intent>result as a linear function like a telephone line. I don't. I rather see it as a billiards table and how skilled one is , while it will probably help to make a more successful shot, is still no guarantee. Strangely, I also (probably because I'm a bit of an animist) think we should take some things into consideration which we don't. Most people will agree that a rock doesn't have 'sentience', but what it does have is 'stored energy'. Just because the physics are different, this may not have a difference in terms of how even an nonsentient object can effect things: rather like they might act as another cue-ball and deflect something. Energy is energy and just because it comes in different packages doesn't negate that fact. (just pass me those bunny slippers ).

Because I don't believe in deity, I cannot simply say " I asked, my deity performed. If my deity decided to perform my request differently, I'm sure they know best or were busy with other things at the time".

This is not to say I don't believe in a universe of worlds within worlds, concepts within concepts, 'energies' we know not of. And really, that is the essence of the question : how does magic work? We don't know, IMO. All I have been able to do is watch and try to extrapolate from the results and even that isn't easy to do if one insists ( as I do ) on the most 'solid' evidence of an effect.

Sorry, blithering here and not answering a single thing you asked!

Indeed, who or what 'speaks' behind the spell? I acknowledge there IS something else. Many do not. It's an open question as of yet, I think.

Marto

*wiping snot off the screen* - ginger, honey, half a lemon, one orange - juice in a cup, hot water. *passes the hanky*

I think everything you've said there is spot on actually - perhaps with the exception of rocks being non-sentient. If you are completely aware of something, it becomes aware of you sometimes. Like when you stare at someone across a room and they sense it and turn in your direction, or you feel yourself being watched in the bath and look up to see a big hairy spider on the tap. It does work with static objects I think. You can feel the essence of what something is and hold a communion with it - ask a rock to trip somebody and, if it feels so inclined, it might. If you are aware of somethng and it is aware f you - you know it - static or otherwise.

When we think that many things do not have sentience or spirit we rule them out of the workings we do - so then cannot see where the deflections come from when they do, possibly putting it down to the will of one god or another - but it doesn't really matter who we pin it on as the result is the same. I agree with you that smaller workings are generally more successful. Or at least workings where the goal is clearly defined.

We start to take more recognition of things having spirit in the Chinese and Hindu structures I think - where collectively all doorsteps have a spirit, all saucepans and all cups. Something more humanly faced with which to interact. But each thing in its own right has that within it - if you can externally personify it then it must also exist within the thing itself separate from the collective.

I do believe in deity though - but it's a loaded word so I don't know whether in believing or not we'd reach similar conclusions. Sounds like we might.

I think as children we instinctively knew what magic and spirit were - we were animists. We didn't need an explanation of it. I think some of us become that again at the very end of our lives. But in between comes all of these words lol