What if red doesn't mean love to me?  What if I find dragons comforting?  What if I see a circle as containing more than being that all things have a beginning and an end?  Does this mean I'm not normal or evil?  The answer is an emphatic NO!  Each of us comes from different backgrounds both in this life time and in other, so to do the spirits of every level and dimension all have different "backgrounds" if you will.  It is for this very reason that working with magic (magick) and spirits is not able to be fully put in an equational format.  Guidelines for getting a good foundation, aura and energy are fantastic aids but as you journey don't let yourself get rutted.  Let me give a few examples:

I have read and heard that most people associate white with purity, innocence, light, goodness and even inexperience such as with a white wedding dress for instance.  However in some asian cultures white is used as a funeral garb and would never be worn on one getting wed.  In my own lifetime white was always put up to mean death, parting, gone, a state of veiledness that does not wish to be penetrated.  Whereas black for me was given the qualities of the perfection of possibilities and potentials.  That point at which all things may begin or end or be totally transformed beyond what a typical mind can imagine.  It is the height of spiritual wisdom to my upbringing.  As you can see if I worked a spell that was for cleansing and purifying which many often use white or clear to accomplish it would not work for me as that is not what white means to me.

Another example is that many advise roses to be used in romance and love spells.  That is quite logical and appropriate for most people as for generations roses have been given between lovers and even intimate friends or deeply bonded family members.  However in my case roses were focused on healing powers that they afford for various parts of the human body both internally and externally.  For me their scent was advocated for teaching me to breathe deeply in establishing the meditative trance state that is necessary for some workings that I have done.  So as you can see using roses in a love/romance spell would not be effectual to me.

Now there is a twist to this that I should state.  There are two types of workings one in which you are adding your energy and intent to that of a spirit essentially giving up the issue for them to seek and obtain the proper resolution to.  Then there are the workings where the spirits add their energy and intent to yours and you control the focus content and intent of the working.  That means that all form of spirit related working is one of a relationship between the practitioner and the spirit(s) of whatever dimension and power.  I therefore must keep in mind that they have backgrounds and views about the meanings of colors, objects, herbs, flowers, etc.  I have been in a situation where the spirit is set on white and I am set on black, so what to do?  Same as you would do in any other relationship find a mutual compromise.  Having both colors represented or settle on the color they want but you may have an object that holds the meaning more clearly for you that the spirit does not object to or find conflicting.  Remember that everyone wants to work together and commune to achieve the common goal that you are focused on.  There are times when you need to put your foot down but like anything else pick that time wisely and judiciously so as not to offend when it isn't necessary.  I have even done a split altar/pentagram working so that the intent of the ritual or ceremony was clear to all those involved.  The spirits focused on their items and me on mine.

So if you are finding that things aren't feeling quite right in a given spell, ritual, ceremony, enchantment or other working take a step back and strip everything away and find the core of what you are attempting to do.  If it is to bring the energy of love into your life than think about what type of love you wish for there are many kinds, I love my pets dearly I assure you but in a very different way than I love my partner in life and different than I love my children which is different from my love of a spirit.  Then think about what colors, object, herbs, smells, sounds, etc... make you feel that type of love or bring up memories of that type of love.  Be ready to discover a deeper root reason that you are feeling the need such as empty nest syndrome or the fact that your little baby boy isn't a baby any longer and you are missing that type of love.  You may find that just realizing the root need is enough to give you a very different path in your magickal workings you may shift for instance to celebrating the fact that little Johnny is growing up to be a very bright and exciting young child and you embrace the shift from one state to another. 

You may also become aware that you have an addictive need for a certain emotion.  Don't scoff, every single emotion is created by drugs created by our own body and it can become addictive.  That is NOT necessarily bad, such as love between mate/spouse/partner that exists for years between them then one dies and suddenly the chemical response of the remaining person DRASTICALLY changes.  They may well need to find some way to stimulate that feeling that they relied on their mate to give them in order for their balance (homeostasis) to return.  There are some addictions that are beneficial for a time but than that time passes and the path you are on now calls for you to readjust your biochemical balance towards something new.

Yes, all these things and so, so much more can be dealt with through magick and work with spirits of various types.  There is no end or limit to all that could be experienced, learned, expressed, received, etc.  The key to it all is to trust that you are unique and different in a positive way just as all others are (living or spirit) you have to embrace and delve into the discovery of your uniqueness and that of the spirits you relate with.

Well, now you know why those who know me call me intense. :D  I hope sharing this helps someone out there find the answer to that nagging feeling that something is missing or just a bit out of sync in a working of one type or other.

Have a gloriously mysterious day.  I have never written a guide before so if you found this at all helpful vote "yes" not for any rating but because I will be looking to see if it has been or not. :)  I am hopelessly curious. LOL :D

Aly (eBay ID: blackaristide)