Key Takeaways
1. Enchantment: The Witch's Art of Subtle Manipulation
This is aimed solely at sharing some techniques that kind of build on each other, to develop a set of abilities that enable us to do stuff that a lot of people say isn’t possible.
Beyond psychology. Enchantment is the ancient art of manipulation through gesture, gaze, and glamour, enabling practitioners to influence people and reality without uttering a word. Unlike neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) or mere psychology, this is "real magick" that Hollywood would recognize, allowing for "Jedi mind tricks" from a distance. The techniques are cumulative, requiring consistent practice to build mental and spiritual "muscles."
Old-school skills. This book revives basic, often forgotten, witchy skills, drawing inspiration from fairy tales, folk tales, and myths where sorcerers manipulate mortals. These stories, often dismissed as fantasy, contain hidden magical lore that can be recovered and applied. The goal is to develop abilities that allow you to "put the 'fluence on people," making them do your bidding.
Cumulative practice. The exercises presented are not a "technique of the week club" but a lifelong commitment. Each new skill builds upon the last, requiring continuous engagement with earlier practices. This consistent effort develops the mental and spiritual stamina necessary for advanced manipulation, much like starting light at a gym and gradually increasing the intensity.
2. Ethical Magick: Necessity Over Desire
Don’t do what you desire; do what is necessary.
Ethics over morals. While all magick involves some form of manipulation—of the universe, elements, or energy—the ethical application to people is paramount. Unlike rigid moral codes, ethics are relative, requiring practitioners to weigh the consequences of their actions and accept responsibility. The core principle is to act only when necessary, not merely out of desire or fleeting anger.
Responsible power. A witch takes responsibility for their actions and life, living it fully. Developing manipulative skills brings significant power, tempting one to overstep boundaries. Therefore, it's crucial to discern when force, aggression, or strength is truly needed, rather than acting on impulse. This self-awareness prevents misuse of power and ensures actions align with a higher purpose.
Naughty but harmless. To build these "muscles," some practice exercises are intentionally "naughty" but harmless. For instance, prodding and poking people in queues or at the supermarket to gauge their reactions and build your influence. This playful, yet ethical, approach allows for skill development without causing genuine harm, reinforcing the confidence needed for more significant applications.
3. Mastering Trance: Gateway to the "Now"
The simplest definition of a trance is that it is an altered state of consciousness where your focus is beyond the real, the mundane, and we do it, on average, approximately every 10 minutes, give or take, because we’re not very focused creatures as a species.
Everyday trance. Trance states are fundamental to magick, acting as a bridge between worlds. We naturally enter light trances multiple times a day through daydreaming or zoning out, making it an accessible skill. The challenge lies not in entering trance, but in consciously recognizing and utilizing it while remaining functional in the mundane world.
Simple induction techniques:
- Skull Lifting: Gently lifting the skull a fraction of an inch from the vertebrae, or self-inducing by elongating the neck and tilting the head slightly, opens the "ancestral gates" at the base of the skull.
- Oils: Applying frankincense (right side) and clary sage (left side) to pulse points temporarily separates brain hemispheres, inducing a contemplative, euphoric state.
- Postures & Movement: Gentle bobbing, swaying, or subtle figure-eight movements (like minimalist tai chi or the "Wildewood shuffle") can easily induce a relaxed, alert trance.
The "now" space. Trance allows entry into a "now" space where time and space are non-linear, enabling interaction with all aspects of the universe. This focused presence, where others are a blur, makes you a figure of authority, enhancing your ability to influence. Maintaining this state while functional is key to effective magick.
4. Cultivating Inner Power: Focus, Will, and Visualization
The real secret to magick, to working a spell, is whatever the outcome of the spell is, you have to be able to see it so clearly at the fulcrum point of the spell, of the crafting; you have to see it so clearly that, just for a second, you believe it’s already come true.
Focused intent. Magick demands total focus, not just physical staring, but a "magical sight" that gazes past the mundane. Trance states aid this by eliminating distractions, but conscious effort is still required. Ritual structures help groups focus, while solo practitioners must cultivate intense, unwavering concentration on their magical work.
Will as necessity. "Will" in magick isn't about doing whatever you desire, but "doing what is necessary." It implies a deep, passionate investment in the outcome, transforming a mere "want" into a profound "need." This passion, fueled by strong emotions—positive or negative—provides the energy to drive magick, making your will become true, much like the ancient Egyptian Maa-Kheru ("truth-speakers").
Vivid visualization. The ability to visualize clearly and strongly is crucial. It's not about elaborate "Spielbergian" effects, but about holding an image in your mind or heart with such clarity that, for a fleeting moment, you believe it has already manifested. Practice exercises include:
- Aura Seeing: Gaze over someone's shoulder (or your own hand in the dark) to see their aura, retraining your mind to perceive subtle energy.
- Object Visualization: Intimately examine an object (e.g., a pen), visualize it with closed eyes, compare, then imagine flying through it as if it were a spaceship.
5. The Real Secret: Passion-Driven Manifestation
The universe doesn’t recognize no.
Positive phrasing. The universe, like a "drunk frat boy," doesn't understand "no." Therefore, all intentions must be phrased positively. Instead of focusing on "not being sick," focus on "health." Instead of "no bills," focus on "more money." This ensures you attract what you desire, not what you fear or wish to avoid.
Passion is power. Magick works when fueled by intense passion, transforming a "want" into a "need." If you want something, you must want it so fiercely that its manifestation becomes necessary. This emotional investment drives the magical process. Even negative emotions like anger or sorrow can be transmuted into powerful fuel for positive magick through transcendence and transformation, as in the "Dark Night of the Soul" ritual.
Single-point focus with a crystal. A quartz crystal pebble serves as a "training wheel" for developing single-point focus, a state akin to a marksman's tunnel vision. By gazing gently at the crystal in dim, indirect light, you enter a trance, allowing you to visualize your desired outcome with intense clarity. This practice, done daily for 5-60 minutes, creates a "fulcrum point" that imbalances the universe, causing it to shift and manifest your will through mundane means.
6. Direct Influence: The Power of Touch
When you have physical contact with the person you’re trying to manipulate, it’s a lot easier, because you haven’t got to build up your energy and throw it at them.
Voluntary trance induction. Physical touch is the easiest way to manipulate someone, especially with a willing partner. Techniques like gently stroking the upper arms in a downward motion can quickly induce a dreamy, relaxed state. The "Vulcan Mind Meld" involves placing fingers on the temple, jaw, and thumb at the back of the head, sending waves of calm, golden energy to relax the subject.
Involuntary trance induction. For unsuspecting targets, subtlety is key. A handshake, focusing thumb and index finger on the pulse point, can "zap" in relaxing energy, making the person suggestible. A small circular motion with the thumb enhances the effect. Even a casual touch on the shoulder as you pass by can initiate influence, though it requires more practice and confidence.
Projecting commands. Once a person is in a suggestible state, you project your command silently, with the same force and conviction as if speaking aloud. Visualize the energy flowing as a wave of light down your arm into the person. Always phrase commands positively (e.g., "stay at home" instead of "don't go to work"). Confidence is paramount; self-doubt will short-circuit the process.
7. Silent Commands: Gesture and Gaze
You’ll notice in the last exercise, when we were doing the passes, that the gaze actually plays an important part, because you basically use the gesture to draw them and to get them in trance, and once you’ve got them in trance, you can look them in the eyes without them looking away.
Magnetic passes. These graceful, flowing hand movements are used to induce trance and manipulate energy without direct touch.
- Circular motions: Stroking an invisible cat, drawing the victim's eyes into a hypnotic rhythm.
- Wavelike motions: Up and down, with emphasis on the downward stroke, extending fingers down and curling them up.
- Drawing in: Waiving hands towards your heart, as if sampling incense, to pull energy or a person closer.
The power of the gaze. Once a subject is in a trance, the gaze becomes the primary tool for manipulation. You project your intent directly through eye contact, visualizing the magnetic passes or silent commands. This requires immense confidence, built through consistent practice of earlier techniques. The "evil eye" (Maloik) is an extreme, often unintentional, form of gaze manipulation, passing dispassion or despair.
Gazing from afar. The gaze isn't limited by physical line of sight. Through "astral vision," which is 360-degree, you can "see" and connect with a person's eyes through the back of their head, influencing them even when they're not facing you. With practice, this ability extends to influencing people across rooms, towns, or even continents, building from direct contact to remote manipulation.
8. The Unspoken Word: Manipulating Crowds
What you’re saying with your mouth doesn’t have to be the message that you’re giving out in the energy.
The Bene Gesserit Voice. The spoken word, imbued with magical intent, can influence not just individuals but entire groups or crowds. This technique, akin to the "Bene Gesserit Voice" from Dune, allows you to project a strong mental picture and command through your words, even if the verbal message differs from the energetic one.
Ripple effect. When addressing a crowd, you gain their attention verbally, making them receptive. As they listen, they passively absorb the energetic message you're sending out. The truly powerful aspect is that receptive individuals then retransmit this energy, creating a "group mind" or "mob intellect." This amplifies your influence, like ripples in a pond creating complex interference patterns that strengthen the original impulse.
Subtle commands. You don't need to be a great orator; the power lies in the energetic message. For example, Marc Antony's speech at Caesar's funeral subtly turned public opinion by contrasting his words with the underlying energetic command. Always phrase your energetic commands positively, and use "impelling words" like "well" to draw people in and make them believe the idea is their own.
9. Glamour & Persuasion: Shaping Perception
Glamour is basically creating an illusion, and it can be a very subtle thing, where you just make somebody feel a little different about something, through to making them actually see and feel things, but we don’t always have to go that far.
Creating illusion. Glamour is the art of creating an illusion, subtly altering how someone perceives you, another person, or an object. It begins by developing rapport and influencing their mood (e.g., making them feel happy or secure). Then, you fine-tune that feeling, connecting it to the object of the glamour, making them see it as you desire—perhaps making yourself appear more handsome or an object more desirable.
Psychic telescope. Glamour can be applied remotely. If you know what someone looks like and have established rapport, you can use your crystal as a "psychic telescope." Hold it to your eye, visualize a tube connecting you to the person, and then project your desired illusion as if they were present. This technique allows for subtle changes, like making an interviewer see you as the perfect candidate, or even making yourself "disappear" from someone's notice.
Practical persuasion. Persuasion is a more practical, everyday application, combining mild glamour (changing feelings) with direct commands. It's useful for getting people to agree to things or believe "white lies." The key is to phrase commands in the first-person singular ("I'm going to sign that contract") so the idea feels like their own. You can pre-persuade by visualizing an event (e.g., a job interview) going exactly as you desire, acting as if it's happening now.
10. Invoking Desire: Attracting What You Need
You send out the vibration that you want to draw back in.
Drawing in. Invoking desire is about attracting people, opportunities, or things into your life. This isn't limited to romantic desire; it can be used to draw business partners, friends, customers, or even specific items. The process involves concentrating for a few minutes each day, sending out waves of thought and energy to the universe.
Like attracts like. The principle behind invoking desire is "like attracts like." You project the vibration of what you wish to draw back. For example, if you want friendly camaraderie, you send out energy imbued with friendliness and good company, using a simple phrase like "this is the place to find fun." This energy acts like ripples in a pond, connecting with receptive minds.
Universal networking. When your energetic wave connects with conducive minds, they pick up on it and begin to retransmit it. This creates a complex social network effect, amplifying your initial intent. By not being overly specific (e.g., "I want more money" instead of "I want this specific person to pay me"), you allow the universe to find the most effective and often surprising ways to manifest your desires.
11. Shielding Your Self: Countering Influence
If you feel somebody putting the glamour or the ‘fluence, or any of this, on you — and believe me you will feel it because now you’re doing it, you’ll recognize it when it comes back at you — you just push back.
Recognize and resist. The most effective defense against external manipulation is recognizing when it's happening. Because you've practiced these techniques, you'll feel the "glamour" or "fluence" being applied to you. Once recognized, simply push back energetically or mentally say "no." This immediate refusal will stop most attempts dead, as your awareness breaks the subtle connection.
Proactive protection. You can proactively protect yourself and your space. For instance, if a room feels "icky" due to past negative events, you can "glamour" or "persuade" the room to become more positive. Focus your techniques on the space itself, imbuing it with desired feelings and energies, transforming its atmosphere.
Spiritual watchmen. For added protection, especially when you are open during your own magical workings, you can enlist your spiritual allies. Your guardian angel, spirit, or patron deity can act as a "watchman," standing guard over you. This integrates your magical practice with your spiritual framework, enhancing your protection while you drop your energetic "shields" to project your will.
12. Integrate & Elevate: Magick Beyond Technique
All of the focus and the energy and the power of the tradition you work, added to what you’re already doing here.
Beyond the basics. The techniques presented in this book are the bare bones of enchantment, designed to build fundamental magical muscles and confidence. As you become more adept, the exaggerated movements and conscious effort will fall away, leaving pure, fluid manipulation. The ultimate goal is to reach a point where you can influence someone with just a glance or even mere awareness.
Personalized power. While the book focuses on generic techniques, their true power is unleashed when integrated into your personal spiritual framework. Add the focus, energy, and power of your specific tradition—your rituals, spells, deities, and beliefs—to these core techniques. This final ingredient significantly amplifies your magical capabilities, transforming simple manipulation into a potent force.
No limits. With consistent practice and integration, there are no limits to what you can achieve. From influencing small daily events to manifesting significant life changes, the ability to move the universe to conform to your needs becomes a reality. This journey of self-mastery and external influence is continuous, with each success building confidence and opening doors to even more profound magical possibilities.
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Review Summary
Enchantment by Peter Paddon receives an overall rating of 3.88 out of 5 stars from 86 Goodreads reviews. A five-star review praises the book's practical approach to teaching pagans about influencing themselves and their surroundings. The reviewer commends the easy-to-follow lessons, excellent pacing, and ethical consciousness, recommending it highly for serious pagans and occultists. However, a three-star review finds the book entertaining and interesting but criticizes it for being too brief and poorly edited.
