Q: How long should I wait for a spell to manifest before I write it off and try something else?
A: Timing can be a tricky thing when it comes to magic and spells. Some are designed to show results immediately, with the right focus of course. A spell/incantation to clear traffic jams, for example. Others take some to build and grow before their results manifest. A ritual to attract your perfect lover would be one that may take time, and would be worth the wait.
Some teachers say to wait 21 to 30 days, or even one Moon cycle. You can use these as a starting point when tracking your results, if you feel you need to measure against some unit of time.
Personally, I don’t put a time frame on my results. I’ve had some spells manifest almost immediately, while some of the bigger workings have taken weeks…months…even years to manifest. The bigger the goal, the more time it tends to need to give you results, especially when it involves some sort of major change supposed to bring about something permanent.
Most magic tends to follow the path of least resistance, and the energies may need time to grow and mature like a fine wine, so patience is always key.
If you feel the need to do so, you can always follow up with other spells or workings designed to help towards the same goal. Some magical practitioners will advise against this under the guise that doing further spells means you don’t trust your original magic to work, but I have never found this to be the case.
I like to cover my bases with magic so I will find several spells or rituals that can be worked in tandem over a period of time. If my results manifest before moving on to the next spell, then I don’t need to continue. If they don’t, then I keep working it, while giving plenty of time in between to let the magic do it’s thing.
You really have to find which school of thought and methodology works best for you. Some spells, like curses or really good love spells, will take more time. In general, the more experienced you get the more you’ll just *know* whether your magic has fizzled or you just need to let it keep working.
Keep in mind that like a watched pot boiling, a watched spell WILL feel like it is taking longer to manifest. So craft your magic, relax, keep doing the work if you feel the need to, and most importantly, trust your gut!
Originally posted on Ask Polaris March 10, 2016 – Updated March 2022
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