Practical Magic: Charms and Enchantments
I’ve seen two words used fairly interchangeably, leading to a fair bit of confusion… “charming” and “enchanting.” It’s something that has managed to catch my eye, and leads me to consider writing an article about what a charm is, versus an enchantment.
Well, screw considering! I’m writing!
Josh, are you alright? Why are you rambling like that?
Not rambling, but speaking my mind. I’m alright, aside from a slight cough left over from being sick, but I’m happily back to typing my witchy little heart out on the keyboard!
In all seriousness, I truly have seen these two terms be used interchangeably, and have received questions several times over regarding “charming an object.” It’s something that’s kind of bothered me. Not in a “That’s not what that is and you should be ashamed of yourself” kind of way. Just in a “I don’t think that means what you think it does,” kind of way.
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, then you’ve seen me post before about what magic is if you were to take away all the bells and whistles: Energy directed by intent. The core of magic is setting your intention to set off the series of events to manifest as reality, working alongside the work you put in. Ingredients and tools are ways of helping facilitate visualization and encourage additional energy aligned with that intent.
So how does that fit into my topic? Well, it helps me explain the difference between enchantment, charms, and the act of charming - all of which tend to get jarbled together in everyday conversation. In large part, this is because fantasy mixes it all together (unless you play D&D, in which case you know that enchantment is specific to objects while charming is a magical effect used to influence the will of an NPC… but I digress). So when we look at real world witchcraft (at least, my practice… keep in mind that some witches have different definitions; my perspective here is based on my personal research and what I’ve come to consider these topics), it helps to understand the differences.
How Charming!
I think it’s best to tackle this in reverse: starting with what a charm is. A charm is an object - be it jewelry or perhaps an item of clothing, or anything else - that has been enchanted. This is not to be confused with a talisman or a sigil. Sigils are created through a process of intent and visualization, while talismans are generally some form of jewelry (sometimes enchanted) that is believed to have some sort of ability or power.
Charms, however, have that intent channeled into them for a specific purpose. They are the product of enchantment.
How Enchanting!
Enchantment is the action of channeling intent and energy. It’s the creation of a charm, and can be as complex or as simple as the witch desires.
How do?
So now that we know the difference, how does one create a charm? Well, the most basic way of creating a charm is to hold the object in your and and focus on your intent while visualizing the energy flowing into it. Any spell meant to achieve this purpose is an enchantment.
An Enchantment Spell for Protection
Ingredients: -Object to be enchanted -Rosemary and/or sage -Cauldron with lit coal
Sprinkle rosemary and/or sage on the lit coal in the cauldron and pass the object through the smoke. With the object now cleansed, hold it in your hand and concentrate on the feeling of being protected and safe. Hold in your mind the thought and feeling of what it’s like to be safe. Now hold the object over the smoke again and visualize that feeling as light pooling in your hand around the object, rising up from the cauldron and spilling out from your heart and into the object, until it glows and it seems like it can’t hold any more of that energy.
When it feels right, hold that image in your mind and affirm it, either by saying something to the effect of I am protected and safe, a shield is this charm, or in another way that fits your practice.
Your charm is now created!
The thing about charms is that they hold an intended purpose. Media and fantasy often makes it out as if the charm is the sole source of that magic, and if the charm is lost or damaged, then the magic is gone. But just like any magic, the energy is meant to supplement your own. If the charm is lost or damaged, your source of power is not lost. Charms can always be created again to protect you from negative energy, increase luck, or keep yourself calm.
So enchant away! Create charms to your heart’s content! There are some practices that place particular emphasis on enchanting, and they can be useful tools for nearly any aspect of witchcraft.
Blessed Be! )O(
