Spell Casting

**Spell Casting** is the ability to cast spells and perform rituals. It is possessed by Witches, Warlocks, and some Upper Level demons.

## Casting

A spell or incantation is a series of words that, when spoken, invoke some magical effect. Reciting a spell is commonly referred to as casting a spell or chanting. In order to be effective, spells must be performed by a magical being. To this end, a spell recited by a mortal will not work.
All spells contain a spoken component, or incantation. An incantation is written and recited as verse. They vary widely in length. They may be as short as two lines, or can can be a dozen or more lines in length. Four lines seems to be the most common length for spells. Most contain rhymes, although some do not. Typical rhyme scheme include couplets (A,A,B,B) or interlocking couplets (A,B,A,B). Some incantations are in a foreign or undecipherable language but still work effectively.

Enchantment - magical effect is invested in an object. The object can then be used to invoke that magic. Jewelery seems to be a common choice for creating enchanted objects.

Rituals - Some spells consist of only an incantation, but others have additional components as well. A spell may require the use of certain tools or ingredients.

Spells are capable of producing a wide variety of effects, both harmful and helpful. They can produce physical changes in a person or object, such as turning a person into a dog or placing protective powers in a talisman. They can also have profound mental effects such as enhancing intellect, altering memory, manipulating emotions, or causing magical compulsion (such as forcing someone to speak truthfully). Spells can manipulate other kinds of magic, such as binding (preventing the use of) a witch's powers, transferring powers between individuals, breaking magical barriers, or lifting curses.

Casting a spell doesn't necessarily have to be done with intent. For witches it just comes naturally.

Vanquishing spells are spells used to defeat strong demons and warlocks. Each one is usually unique, designed to defeat a single, specific individual. Often, they require the Power of Three.

**Types of Magic**

* Bright Magic
* Dark Magic

Bright Magic (or White Magic) is a form of sorcery that draws on benevolent energy, and may be used for positive purposes that deliberately causes help in some way (e.g. to cure or protect, to improve or restore, or for the benefit of others rather than for the profit of oneself.) In popular usage, the term "bright magic" is often used to describe any form of magic that obeys the Wiccan Rede.

Dark Magic (or Black Magic) is a form of sorcery that draws on malevolent energy, and may be used for negative purposes that deliberately causes harm in some way (e.g. to cause destruction or misfortune, to injure or kill, or for the profit of oneself rather than for the benefit of others.) In popular usage, the term "dark magic" is often used to describe any form of magic that disobeys the Wiccan Rede.

## Specifics and Limitations

Despite Grams implying that witches are capable of anything, it is safe to assume that that is not completely true. Magic seems to be semi-conscious. Just like asking a genie to grant a specific wish; there are often loopholes the wisher, or caster, can fall into if they are not very specific. Spell backfiring is also a common problem.

Spell Backfire can result from:

* A witch sworn to the Wiccan Rede using magic for personal gain
* Not being specific enough with the incantation
* Nature's "will" to teach the witch a lesson in some way
* Magical balance in the world

In addition to the possibility of backfire, the spell's effect may be very weak, or may not even work at all. This implies that the willpower and innate magical strength of the witch has an affect on the spell's success. Extra material components, potions, or rituals may or may not be necessary for a spell. Instead, the extra components may just help to magnify the spell's strength.

Some spells require more than one witch to make them work in order to increase the amount of magic and therefore potential power available for the spell.

Spells can, at times, replicate powers, such as Gram's "Freezing Spell", stopping Piper in her tracks, and achieve more spectacular effects, such as the "To Lose a Love Forever" spell, Phoebe's (although failed) "Flesh to Stone Spell", and the "Obscuring Mist Spell".

## The Laws of Magic

According to the Laws of Magic, black magic is said to have the least limitations, while white magic is said to have the most. This is namely due to the fact that bright magic is intimately tied to the Wiccan Rede and cannot be used for anything that defies the fundamental laws of nature, whereas dark magic is not tied to the Wiccan Rede and can be used for almost anything the witch desires whether it flouts the natural laws or not. Black magic and white magic are equivalent in power, meaning that neither bright magic nor dark magic is less or more powerful than the other. However, the fact that black magic is able to accomplish more than white magic is the main reason why so many witches are drawn to the Dark Arts. Nevertheless, black magic is both addictive and corruptive, and, once a person opens themselves to the Darkness, it's almost impossible to close themselves from it. Some of the brightest Wiccans in history have become some the darkest witches known-to-man after they started to dabble in the Dark Arts.

## Notes

* Spells that create negative magical effects, that harm others, are called curses. These spells are difficult and should not be taken lightly.
* Reading a spell backwards correctly can reverse the effects.
* Spells work even if they are recorded, as long as they are cast by a witch.
* A haiku can also be considered a spell. Paige Matthews proved this when she wrote a haiku to vanquish Ludlow.
* Phoebe Halliwell is considered to be the best spell-writer of the Charmed Ones. Piper is considered the best at making potions.
	+ Phoebe discovered that past magic can be drawn upon for a spell, such as in the spell that vanquished the Source of All Evil. She also crafted a more powerful Power of Three spell. Furthermore, Leo mentioned that she has authored hundreds of spells of various uses.
* Protection spells are dangerous since the spell's compulsion towards keeping the subject safe would not allow the subject to move in an attempt to prevent any possible danger.
* Skilled witches can combine spells to make a single, more powerful spell for the same purpose.
* The most often used spell in the series is the To Call a Lost Witch spell.