The Spellcaster's Source Hoodoo and Voodoo Witchcraft Blog of Talia Felix

  It is very common online and in books to see the claim that a "magic spell" is so called because you write, or spell, it out on paper. Contrary to popular belief, spells are not so called because you "spell" them out. It is in fact a branching out of  a now-obsolete Middle English word spel , meaning "an utterance, something said, a statement, remark; also, a conversation." It could also mean a fixed story or poem (that you memorize and recite) and then, by extension, a chant you recite. And, by extension, a spell in the magical incantation sense. In one Middle English to Latin glossary, spell is equated with "syllabicos."  Of interest, this word is also the second element in the term  gospel . Literacy was not the most normal of conditions until fairly recently. There are parts of the world even today where it is uncommon. It is therefore no surprise that in former times, things were communicated more often by speech than by writing. However,...

Kyphi was the name given to a style of sacred incense, rather than to a specific blend. The name is derived from the Greek rendering of the Egyptian word kapet, which simply means “fumigation” or “incense.” Whether due to the limited number of fragrant herbs available at the time, or due to some requirement dictated by the way it would be used, kyphi recipes do have certain things in common and do not seem to be a totally random combination of herbs. Honey, cinnamon and mastic appear to always be included, and raisins or wine are very typically added. The total number of ingredients might be fewer than ten or they could number more than seventy. A much simplified version of the recipe can be found in my book The Conjure Cookbook. Here is a fairly easy version of kyphi from the 12th century BC. palmarosa cinnamon sweet flag mint pine resin mastic raisin wine (preferred -- red wine from grapes is an acceptable substitute) honey The herbs can be used fresh or dried. A proper kyphi should ...

  I've posted about chakras before. I might have even mentioned them in my books . Chakras are so ubiquitous you don't even think about them -- you see chakra candles at Whole Foods, chakra gemstone necklaces at art fairs, you can buy Wiccan athames with chakra symbols on them  and chakra smudge kits . As of this writing, the #1 search result for the word "chakra" on Google is a Healthline page . Chatting with a Nepalese-born clerk at a local shop, he was describing to me anxiety symptoms and termed the sensation as "hitting right in the heart chakra." Didn't even need to explain what that was. I happened to take a Sanskrit class at age 12 and I'm sure I was exposed to the word chakra there and thus aware of the Hindu origins of the term. I cannot be sure everyone who utilizes chakra magic/energy is aware of that origin. It's a Sanskrit word meaning "wheel" and also applies to a sort of discus weapon used in antiquity, which the Hind...