Many times, spells will suggest or require the practitioner to use the "personal concerns" or a "personal item" from one or more parties targeted by the work. This is particularly true in love, break up, commanding, crossing, protection and healing rituals. A written spell might ask you to insert a personal item into the wax of a candle. Or to place something of the target's at the bottom of a magical lamp. This can be a source of frustration and confusion for many novice spellcasters. So, I am going to address issues with personal concerns in this article.

Making a Magical Connection

The practice of using personal items in magical rituals is cross-cultural. Often, we think of it as being within the realm of African-based magical practices. But, it also seen in Northern European customs as well as those from the Far and Middle East.

The idea behind using something personal or "of the body" from your target is to make an actual, physical connection between your spirit, spiritual energy and the party you are trying to effect. When we write a name paper, the connection between our work and the target is symbolic. But, when we use something that is physically connected to the target, part of that person's being becomes incorporated within our spiritual undertaking.

If you look at your ritual work as a living process, you might better understand how a personal object changes the nature of what you are doing. Instead of there being just your energy (and/or the energy of a Spirit or entity) in the spell, you have now added the energy of another party. Through the instructions you provide in prayer or meditation, you focus the energy onto that third party. They then become the target in a physical sense. Your work attaches to that person. It becomes involved in their world. And they are integrated into the magical world you create with the ritual. In that world, you can change, manipulate and effect that person.

What Qualifies as a Personal Concern?

A personal concern is something personal of the target. It is that simple. Some items are better suited for certain types of work. If you are doing a sex spell, an unwashed undergarment is better than a glove. If you want to change how one thinks. a hair or a piece of a hat is better than a pair of socks. BUT! Any personal item is better than no personal item in spellwork. Below is a list of items you might be able to gain access to.

The list is really endless. Think and be creative. Often in a rush to do spellwork, we can't see the forest from the trees. There is almost always a way to get something from the target - especially photos with so many people posting them now on the internet.

You can also use your own personal items in a work designed to help yourself. This is common in money drawing, success, protection and healing rituals. Add one of your own hairs to a gris gris bag created for gambling luck. Or knot one of your hairs with your target's in a love spell.

How do I use a Personal Concern in a Ritual?

Once you procure the object from the person, it will not take much of it to make a connection with the target. A single hair or a tiny scrap of fabric/tissue the size of an ant is all you need to use in a candle or lamp. People often make poppets or dolls out of unwashed clothing. If this is your situation, reserve the scraps of fabric. Always keep your personal items "on file" in the event that you have to do additional work.

What if I can't gather a Personal Concern?

Sometimes, you just can't get something personal from your target. This does not mean you cannot try to do your ritual. We can only do what we can do. "It is what it is". In these instances, you will have to employ a name paper and work extra hard on your visualization of the target during your prayer/meditation.

I hope this helps you understand personal concerns a little better I think you will find that when you use them, you will have quicker and more powerful results from your spellcasting.

Blessings,

Tribble

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