I make spells by raising Energy and focusing my attention on directing this energy to my goal. Everything surrounding this fundamental action is merely props and scenery designed to aid in raising and focusing this energy.
According to this definition, devoted prayer while lighting a novena candle in a catholic church is a spell. Writing a dollar sign on a piece of birch bark and floating it down a stream could be a spell to release anxiety about money issues.
Symbolism offers us a rich language to express our deeper needs. Magick speaks the language of symbols. A candle flame can represent the spirit, a coin can represent prosperity, a crystal can represent a wish. By using this personal language of symbolism, spells can be of infinite variety.
Although you might be able to find entire books of spells for sale or online, they are useless unless the symbolism used by the author matches your own inner language. For example, a spell to bring luck that involved chanting in a foreign language and tapping the floor three times with a staff would be useless unless these actions have meaning for you personally. On the other hand, crossing our fingers or “knocking on wood” are familiar to us, and therefore will be more effective.
Different people connect with and channel Energy in different ways. Most people have a strong affinity for one or more of the Elements. An affinity merely means that they harmonize most strongly with one type or "frequency" of Energy. For example, as a Fire sign (Leo), I harmonize very strongly with the element of Fire... (hence my magical name "Flame".) Not surprisingly, I find it easy to work spells that involve candles or in other ways involve the element of fire. So if a person is aware of and attuned to his or her own personal energy flows, s/he can also focus this energy for use in appropriate spells. But anyone can tap into all of the elements, so this shouldn't be restrictive in what types of "spells" are done.
~Flame RavenHawk