Setting intentions can be the hard part, and yet is widely acknowledged to be the key to success of any majickal working. Do you want your opposing counsel's penis to fall off, or do you just want to win a motion? Do you want a large settlement or just to bring harmony to a difficult situation? It can be hard to find your way through these questions, especially when it comes to larger issues like life path.
I recently experienced a set-back that easily could have resulted in hexing this way and that--and it still may. However, I felt a strong call to clarity first.
As with any spell or working I offer, intention is everything--you should adapt, adapt, adapt!
1. First, I set my intention for clarity. Rather than trying to solve, punish, manipulate, or change, I decided, here, to invoke nothing but clarity. I wanted to gain a clear sense of next steps.
2. I paid a visit to my local witch shop. This is entirely optional, and I do not believe buying is ever the only solution. I felt a strong call in the beginning--my intention-setting process--to use purple candles. In the early stages, I actually saw a vision of me holding a purple candle and experiencing peace and clarity. While I do not believe material things are necessary to work majick, in this case, the visit felt like an opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of our local shop, visit, and support a good local resource. I bought several purple candles--a whimsical one with a quote threatening to unleash flying monkeys and a more somber hoodoo candle along with a votive and several chimes.
Here are some of the candles I used (note that clicking on affiliate links might make me a whole goo-gob of money). The Flying Monkey candle was fun and introduced some needed levity into my work, while the High John candle brought important qualities calling for justice and balance, had a great scent, and included a label that could be used to record intentions and incorporate into the spell:
3. I set up my candles, something some might prefer to do in circle. I used a whimsical skull platter for portability and fire safety and created a small aluminum foil tray for the candles, which I arranged according to the four corners. Later, in circle, I (not pictured) scattered some lavender for peace and tranquility though the candles. My post on herbs for justice is here.
4. I called in the four corners, set my intention, and asked for clarity as I lit the candles. I am not one for long, rhyming invocations, but it would be fine to do one.
In the beginning: candles burning in the early stages of the spell.
5. After breaking the initial circle, I lit the candles on subsequent days--in the spirit of a 7-day candle.
Clarity? Well, I am clearer on a few things. A multi-day spell calls me back to my circle, meditation, and intention. I know I will make some changes, and am moving forward with greater confidence in the area where I felt confusion.
