Witchcraft Spells

Witchcraft and spells - they go together like toast and honey, don't they? Witchcraft spells form the backbone of a witch's arsenal, but witchcraft spells alone are actually completely worthless.

These days, if you were to toddle into your local bookshop, close your eyes and fling a dart, there's a reasonably good chance you'd hit a spell book. There's an even better chance that you'd be forcibly ejected from the shop shortly thereafter, so I'm not advocating this practice. It does, though, make the point that this literary genre has never been more popular.

Witchcraft spells burst forth from this cornucopia of printed waffle - witchcraft spells to find "true love", witchcraft spells to hog-tie that wayward ex and drag them back, witchcraft spells to make us sexier, smarter, stronger, healthier and, of course, witchcraft spells to make us wealthy beyond our wildest dreams.

The biggest Witchy complaint against spell books is that the spells within in them don't (or possibly can't) work. The spell book, it's argued, looks comparable to a recipe book, but whereas Delia Smith can reliably lead most of us through the creation of an omelette, the compiler of spells is less likely to guide the average punter to health, wealth and insuperable sexual charisma.

There's some validity to this, but the better authors in the field make it clear that the spell book isn't really the equivalent of "150 Astonishing Meatloaves". It's more like sheet music: valuable to those who have put the effort into learning how to read music and perhaps play an instrument, but bookshelf clutter to those who haven't.

Witchcraft spells are less a recipe and more a starting-point for inspiration. Witchcraft spells are more like a palette than a finished painting. Only in the hands of an accomplished artist will witchcraft spells become anything which stirs the soul, or changes the world in any way.

If you want to cast witchcraft spells, and cast them effectively, you must become that artist, and master the skills which will enable you to weave the raw materials of witchcraft spells into an irresistible force.

Without this training and discipline, witchcraft spells aren't worth the paper they are written on.

What market watchers are saying this week

Insightful, outspoken, colourful and, occasionally, just plain weird words on investing and money

Adobe After Effects CS5 Review

Adobe After Effects is the industry-standard for desktop video post-production applications, but does After Effects CS5 bring enough new to the table to justify an upgrade? We break it down in this review.

FCAT delays also weigh heavily on students

Her summer camp has been the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A voracious reader, Riccy Hernández devoured the fifth book of Harry Potter's saga in three weeks. Although she got carried away by Harry's constant nightmares prompted by a mental connection with Lord Voldemort, this fifth-grade student in Allapattah's Santa Clara Elementary School could not disconnect from her own fears.

Legendary school for witchcraft, wizardry comes to Valdosta today

Ready your wands, Harry Potter fans, because today the South Georgia Regional Library System is bringing Hogwarts to Valdosta. Those who come to the main branch on Woodrow Wilson Drive between noon-3 p.m. will be whisked away to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Students will be able to participate in interactive stations, meet characters from the book, and have their picture taken ...

Labors election priorities laid bare in uniform display

Beneath this morning's otherwise unremarkable announcement about rebates for school uniforms is a central Labor re-election strategy. Thus the prime minister herself launched it, explains Bernard Keane .