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The spoken word is a key element in the performance of any type of ritual or ceremonial working whether in magic or religious functions. The words you use are designed to shape and give power to your request, be it an invocation to force a change in your reality through your force of will or implore the aid of a god or entity to grant a request.
While many feel there is a vast difference between magic spells and religious prayers, there are a number of surprising similarities between what is essentially the same form of communication. The particular method of performing a spell or prayer has its own cultural differences but are in essence very closely related to each other. Both prayers and spells are a request or petition for a 'higher' power to grant a specific outcome or effect. Both require a strong visualization of the final outcome and must be stated in a clear and focused manner. Quite often both spells and prayers must be coupled with specific hand and body movements or gestures.
Spells and prayers are both performed for much the same reasons. They may be beneficial requests for healing, success, protection, truth or even weather control. They can likewise be for the most negative of wishes. Be it prayer or spell, defeat of one's enemies is intended to cause harm to one's fellow humans. While spells are more likely to be used for negative results than prayers, both can cause damage to not only the victim of the incantation but, if successfully repelled, can be devastating to the originator of the request as well.
Both spells and prayers can make use of prewritten and formulized wording. Despite the fact that rhyming verses help reinforce the emotional buildup of the ecstatic energy of the performer, spells tend to use this vocal asset more so than prayers. Prayers tend to be more spontaneous even though the experienced Craftsman knows that the best spells are those which come from the heart through personal experience and practice.
Both prayers and spells rely more on the specific intent of the person performing the incantation. While it is usually assumed by those who pray that the intent is more important than the words, the magician knows that words have power and try to use as exact a wording of their request as is possible with the language used.
Popular belief insists that prayers are the exclusive domain of religion while spells are for Witchcraft and magic. Since both aspects of incantation are usually aimed at obtaining supernatural influence over natural phenomena and are primarily focused on a specific deity, it is not hard to see that there is no real difference between the two. Both the performances of prayers and spells are supposed to have an ethical stance governing their performance. Neither are supposed to seek harm but both can be easily abused if the practitioner is less than scrupulous with the wording and emotional emphasis by which they petition their deity of choice.
As well as writing and researching on the paranormal and occult phenomena that intersect our reality, Douglas Mefford can also be found helping spread literature to the world at Bell, Book & Candle Publications or hanging out at his bungalow in Greenwoods Village.
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