Spellcraft - Basic Nightmare Ward
I'm going to do this one different and show how I craft or adapt my spells.
The point of the nightmare ward isn't just to keep negative energies out, but to cleanse whatever might be causing nightmares in the first place. Therefore, we need three types of ingredients:
The kind that dissolves negative energy
The kind that prepares your body to accept new energies
The kind that protects against negative energy
So I consider the basics of spell making and choose my ingredients accordingly. Also, I consider the ease in which one can obtain the ingredients. For this spell to work, I must include some herbs that aren't easy to find. This makes this spell no longer "Easy Spellcraft."
If all you use in candles, your spell is going to work, but it won't be very potent. So the harder the manifestation of the required energies is determines how many of what ingredient to use.
In this case, I want to destroy nightmares and replace them with good dreams. I'm going to need some potent ingredients. Therefore, I will go with candles (my default), dried herbs (more potent than incense), and a charm (for lasting effect).
To dissolve energy, I will choose 2 black candles. One for the circle, and another as support.
In order for the black candle to work on cleansing, I'm going to need another candle. Because we are not ready to spiritually accept new energies, we'll need an Orange candle to light alongside the second black candle.
We'll choose blue candle for the middle stage, since it promotes psychic understanding and assists with sleep.
Instead of incense, I recommend burning a stack of white sage and wormwood. The sage will purify you, while the wormwood will promote a psychic energy.
Finally, to close the spell and hold the effect, we'll need protection in the form of a charm. Rosemary is a powerful herbal component for protection. I use it in almost all of my charms.
To confuse any potential negative spirits, we'll reinforce the rosemary with garlic.
Go ahead and add water to your ingredients list, because you'll need something to seal your charm with. Water also compliments psychic energies, which have much to do with dreams.
Salt and pepper, as both purifiers and protection. This will add some oomph to the water.
A jar, for the ingredients of the charm
A token pentacle, such as a ring or a necklace, or ink to create a pentacle. The pentacle is a symbol of protection.
Boil the water with salt and pepper. Allow the water to cool, and bring to your spell in an easy-to-pour container. This creates a sort of holy water. It also draws the energy from all sources -- earth = salt & pepper; fire = fire to cook it; water; and air -- to this single ingredient, maximizing its potential.
After casting a circle, light the black and orange candles and set them in front of you.
Imagine the negative energy as a dark aura flowing from you and into the candles. -- this step is common in many breaking spells because your imagination allows your energy to focus on the task at hand.
Step 2 may be repeated as needed, until the caster begins to feel empty or sleepy. -- the feeling of sleepiness is a sign that your body is clearing out its energies, which includes the bad.
Snuff out the orange candle, and light the blue one. -- the act of snuffing the candle shows the spirits that you want immediate change, and lighting the blue candle instantly shows where you want that change to be.
Light the sage and wormwood, and meditate in the smoke, breathing deeply.
When you feel completely at peace and ready for sleep, take your rosemary, garlic, and dill, and fill your jar with them.
Pour into the jar your holy water until completely full.
Seal the jar, and, after closing the circle, place the charm underneath your bed.
On the charm, place your token pentacle. If you do not have one, draw a pentacle on the charm, or on a piece of blue paper beneath the charm.
