--Patti

A: This is probably one of the toughest and most common questions a witch will encounter. Witches have the power to change so many things in their lives -- why shouldn't a witch draw someone special to her?

Spiritualitea Recommends: Bewitched : Titania's Book of Love Spells by titania hardie Simple Spells for Love : Ancient Practices for Emotional Fulfillment by barrie dolnick Love Magic by laurie cabot The Salem Witches' Book of Love Spells : Ancient Spells from Modern Witches by lilith mclelland

The problem isn't the ability, but the ethics. Performing a spell to alter another person's behavior without their knowledge is not only dangerous, it's not likely to get you healthy and positive results.

But, don't lose hope -- there is something that you can do to draw the love you seek. You can perform a spell to allow someone to find the courage to express their feelings for you, or to help you find love in something or someone that you didn't expect.

You might think that performing a love spell in such generic terms won't get you what you're looking for, but if this certain someone does have feelings for you that he's afraid to express, this spell will reach him and allow the love to grow naturally. If you've somehow misjudged him and he's not the best fit for you, then you've done no harm to yourself or to him.

Perform the spell during the waxing moon, since you are trying to draw positive things toward you. The increasing light of the moon represents the increased love you want to see in your life. Set up altar space as you normally would, if you have something you typically use for sacred work. If not, setting things up on a cleared-off table is fine. Make sure the space you set up makes things a little different than the everyday. For instance, if you do this in your living room, push the furniture back a bit, work by candlelight, and take the coasters and books off the coffeetable. This will trigger in your mind that you're performing sacred work.

Use a pink candle to represent love and rub tonka bean oil on the candle. Procure a piece of red aventurine (if you can find a necklace with this stone, that's even better). Red aventurine is ideal for luck in love. Also, get a piece of nice stationary, a red ink pen, and a piece of red embroidery floss about 7-10 inches long. When you perform the spell, make sure you won't be disturbed for a while.

The key to a love spell, as to any spell, is to be specific. Don't just call on the goddess to "deliver love" or you might wind up with a stray puppy on your doorstep, ready to be your best friend. What you're trying to do is to describe exactly what you're looking for and exactly in what time period you would like it to happen. Keep in mind that you shouldn't get too pushy with deity, nor set up unrealistic expectations. Keep the time frame to something simple, like a moon's cycle.

Take a bath before you perform the spell with lots of candles and your favorite incense burning. Part of drawing love is loving yourself, so pamper yourself. Taking a bath not only purifies your body, but also purifies your mind by allowing you to cast away mundane, everyday thoughts (what to buy at the grocery store, what bills need to be paid, what homework needs doing) and focus on your work. This is your time with divinity.

Next, dress yourself in an outfit in which you feel most attractive. Sit down and light your pink candle, with the red aventurine lying before it, as well as the pen and paper. Ask the goddess to be present and assist you with your spell. You can call on a particular aspect of a goddess with whom you work well. I don't advise calling on a goddess you don't know by name. Instead, call on the aspect of the mother goddess to assist you. You can say something like, "Divine Mother, grant your blessings on me as I perform this spell. Help me find a lover who is best suited to me, as your will dictates." Then light the pink candle.

Next, take the piece of aventurine and hold it to your heart. Imagine the happiness of love and see yourself as attractive and worthy of love. Feel these qualities go into the stone. Say out loud, "The person best suited for me will find me and express their love for me in one month's time. And I will be ready to accept and receive this love when it comes to me." Once you finish your spell, you will carry this stone with you (or wear it, if it's a necklace) as a reminder and talisman to draw love to you.

Put the stone back down and take up the pen. On your paper, write a poem or paragraph describing your ideal lover (but not a particular person who you think of as your ideal lover.) Remember that personal qualities should take precedence over physical attributes. Also write down the activities that you'd like to do with your future love. Also, make sure that you stress romantic over platonic love, if that's what you're looking for. Specificity is key.

Fold your paper in half three times and say, "By the power of three times three, the love I seek will come to me." Tie the red embroidery floss around the paper and carry it with you until your love reaches you.

Be sure to thank the goddess you called, saying something as simple as, "Divine Mother, I thank you for your assistance and presence." Finally, allow the candle to burn itself out in a safe place. When you've found a loving relationship, thank the goddess again by planting something or helping to clean up a park. Strive to send love out into the world that you've received.