Many Pagans to associate their spiritual path with the countryside, the turning of the seasons, the appreciation of the Divine in ritual, and something totally disconnected from work. But, thinking it through, if you consider one area of your life sacred then all areas are- even work. Work, especially if you don’t enjoy it, is considered by a lot of people just a means to an end. This end is usually money to pay for the necessities of life, frequently with little forethought to planning a career arc or advancement in a particular field. By using magick in addition to working in, or towards, your chosen career you can maximise your chances of doing well, and your skills being appreciated.

Three major blocks that stop people using magick in the workplace are anxiety, denial, and distraction. Many times the anxiety has a twofold source in that in some places people don’t want their workmates to discover they are a Pagan because of the repercussions, and worrying about using magick, and/or petitioning the Gods and Goddesses for apparently trivial ends. Denial usually presents itself in the form of “magick won’t work in this situation because things are beyond my control” or some other expression that suggests you have no power in the work environment. Part of this is due to the amount of distraction in the workplace itself including task deadlines, meetings, and other items that keep you too busy to be able to focus on casting a spell or contacting the Divine. Naturally, apart from perhaps meditating during designated break times, it’s not recommended to prepare the spell itself while at work because of the different levels of consciousness involved and the chances of awkward questions being asked if you are seen doing anything “unusual”.

In most cases the common problems outlined above tend to be based in a low sense of self-worth, something I saw a lot of in the clientele that frequented the Pagan Shop I used to help out at. In most cases it was because they hadn’t worked enough on their self-development and confidence and were using their spiritual path as a means of escaping from reality rather than managing it. Working on your weaknesses and understanding yourself is the keystone for any successful Pagan, the bedrock for powerful spells, and communing with the Divine in any form it may be. A good way to develop the confidence to start on that path is to practice magick when it seems to be really difficult. The workplace is the perfect “Laboratory” to experiment with magick because you can get quick and effective feedback as to whether your skills are working or not.


Having said that what spells are most appropriate for the workplace? For confidence building and quick results the ones that work best are the simple ones, such as:

The Personal Magnetism Spell
A useful spell for people who deal a lot with the public, especially face to face.

Ingredients:
An Orange
A passport or ID card sized photograph of yourself
Powdered or freshly ground Cinnamon.

To cast the spell:

Cut a slit in the orange and insert the photograph. Then take it to a park, wooded area, or your own garden if you have one, and dig a hole. Place the orange in the hole and sprinkle the cinnamon over it as you declaim “Let me radiate like the Sun’s own rays. From this day forth ‘til the end of my days” Then fill in the hole with the earth you removed earlier and walk away without looking back.

As the earth absorbs the orange and image the spellcaster should notice an increase in their personal influence and charm.
Since this is a solar spell it can be enhanced doing this at midday on a Sunday, or on the day of the summer Solstice.

Handshake for personal influence

This is a useful technique for projecting a positive influence on people in one to one encounters – especially ones such as those at job interviews or meeting important clients. It is based on what stage and rapid induction hypnotists call “The interruption technique”. Basically as adults most people experience a handshake as a single event and interrupting it in any way can cause the mind to ‘jump’ into an altered, suggestible, state both on the mental and psychic levels. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to place the index finger of your hand firmly on the pulse point just inside the other person’s wrist as you shake hands. As you do so concentrate on implanting the idea you want the person to act on in their mind.

Some magickal practitioners also prepare beforehand by breathing deeply several times to charge themselves with magickal energy, be it termed Prana, Chi, Odic Force, or something else. Then they program it through intent and visualisation and release it into the situation or person as they press the pulse point. This can be highly effective when done by someone experienced in the technique and I have seen people’s eyes literally glaze over and defocus slightly when it has been used on them. I used to see this technique a lot in Mexico, in handshake business deals in the markets. At the handshake one of the parties would ‘zone out’ slightly and agree to whatever price or deal the person who had used the technique suggested. After a short period of time they would return to a normal state of consciousness, frequently bewildered as to what had just happened, and puzzled as to how they had acquiesced to a deal that was so much in the other party’s favour.

Luck Drawing Powder

Equal parts by volume of

Frankincense
Dried High John the Conqueror Root*
Dried Bay Leaves

Grind each item separately and then combine as you empower them through your favoured method. Carry this powder with you, and sprinkle discretely around your work area, to attract good luck when needed.

In the next article we will explore protection techniques and spells to help deflect negativity, be it problem workmate or a fellow magick worker. As magickal techniques become more available through the internet, people are starting to employ them for personal advancement –especially at work. As I explained in an earlier article the “lore of threefold return” is a relatively new innovation in Pagan training, and some people can use ‘off the shelf’ magickal techniques to good effect with little or no formal training. By learning how to deflect, or reflect, these energies back to their sender you can protect yourself subtly but effectively.

*The root of the plant Ipomoea Jalapa – a member of the Bindweed family. The type called “High John the Conqueror Root only grows in the wild in Southern Europe, Latin America and the Southern United States. However, other members of the Bindweed family seem to work equally well in spellcrafting- especially Morning Glory.