Spells, Spells, and More Spells
Spellcraft is the basis for all magical endeavor. Spells can be used on their own or to charge/give power to items such as wands, amulets, and potions. But one must remember that spells are highly dangerous no matter how experienced the wizard is who uses them. The words must be repeated exactly; the magic symbols must be drawn with complete accuracy and the wands must be flicked in the exact flicked pattern.
It is the utmost importance to remember that the spells that are with in one wizard's books must be kept a secret. Magic that is bandied about has a habit of losing its power. Spells that are not secret may be turned against you. Silence must ever be your watchword!
However, there are some spells that are learned from certain modern day establishments like wizard school that are taught to the up and coming wizard/witch that don’t lose potency because they are taught to use sparingly but when using them use with feeling.
For example in the show Charmed, Leo, the sisters White-Lighter, would always tell the sisters to use the magic with feeling.
Principles of Magic
For some spells to be cast, one must summon the correct kind of elf, fairy, or genie to help us in one's work. It is common for a wizard or witch to use/ask for the assistance from these magical beings. The magic words and other elements, such as using robes of a specific color, incenses with a particular smell, special types of wand, & so forth associated with a spell, are merely a kind of address--to get in touch with the fairy and to ask it to do our bidding. For example, reconciliation spells involve a spirit known as Imok Urok, who is attracted to the color green, images of doves, & the wood of the olive tree. He is summoned by repeating the letters in his name over and over again while waving an olive branch over the 2 parties who need to be reconciled.
In some instances like the movie The Craft, the three girls needed to find a fourth so they can "call the corners". The corners are north, south, east, and west and each took a particular element; fire, water, earth, wind. Now the three originals girls can still do magic but in order to do the magic they wanted to do, they needed the fourth girl to complete the circle. This enabled them to have a much more potent magic and the outcome of their spells would come to fruition more likely if there were only three of them.
Also, in the show Charmed, the Halliwell sisters where known as the Charmed Ones. They had a special type of magic that other witches didn't have. Sure they can all do their own type of magic alone, but if you put the girls together, they were able to banish warlocks, demons, and evil that tried to rip them apart. The way the girls became the most powerful source of power was due to an ancestor being burned at the stake during the Salem Witch Trials. Her name was Melinda Warren. Melinda possessed 3 powers, power to move things with her mind, freeze time, and power or premonition. However, before she died, Melinda prophesied that each coming generation of Warren (later Halliwell) witches would grow stronger and stronger, finally resulting in the arrival of the sisters -- the three sisters would form The Power of Three, the most powerful magical force ever. Together, they are a strong force able to vanquish evil, but seperate they are pretty much just a powerful witch...but nothing like the power of three.
According to The Calendar of the Secrets of Merlin Wizardology, some of the more common spells, that even non magic folk know of, has since lost some of its potency because of over usage are:
Abracadabra- This word banishes all kinds of evil things, Aim your wand properly as you shout it.
Hey Presto!- This phrase is used to distract an audience as when pulling a rabbit from a hat. It is never used by real bona fide wizards.
Hocus Pocus-Used in the phrase "Hocus Pocus, tontus talontus, vade celeriter jubeo," which means nothing in Latin but is a spell for concealing things.
Mumbo Jumbo- The name of an actually very friendly African spirit used to strike fear into one's enemies & other foolish persons.
Open Sesame- A spell for the undoing of locked doors and chests so that they pop open in much the same way as the sesame seed pod.
Four Main Types of Spells
Animating Spells
Of the four main classes of spell, animating spells, which cause objects and people to move in a desired fashion, are the easiest. They are often accompanied by an instruction, for example, to a door : Let someone pass if they whisper,"Open Sesame" or open a lock by saying "Alohomora"
Transforming Spells
Transforming Spells make one thing appear to be another or disappear from sight altogether. The Anifornum, by which a wizard takes on the shape of a bird, serpent, or beast, is one variety of transforming spell. Typically, a transforming spell may be undone in a very simple manner, for example, with a kiss. We seen a spell like this in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with the Polyjuice potion or in the movie The Craft with the Glamour Spell.
Healing Spells
Healing spells are useful but drain a lot of energy from the caster. Some have an apparently miraculous effect; others seem to work naturally. Until you become a master wizard though, I recommend that you always visit a doctor or physician should you become ill. In Charmed we see Leo and Paige who are whitelighters use their healing magic to heal most if not all injuries.
Affecting Spells
These spells cause people to change how they think or feel. For example, to fall in love with someone. As a rule, these are forbidden. They can also be used to cause spirits and animals to communicate with you. As with all spells, they will go wrong if they can, so you must be on your guard at all times. Again in Harry Potter, we see the Imperio Curse or the love laced chocolates Ron ate.