Is the pen truly mightier than the sword? For personal magic, yes! In this case, instead of a pen, though, your words will be conveyed using items other than a traditional writing instrument. My latest book, The Words of the Witch, explores myriad ways to write and speak your magic. In this article I’m giving you three bonus projects that are not included in the book.

Words have power, and with these activities you will be choosing and empowering a word or words of your choice that can be used as an affirmation or a one-word spell (more details on this topic are provided in the book). All you need to know for now is that a one-word spell involves choosing a word that encompasses your goal; it's a word that you express with specific intent. For the word-creation activities, you can make the act of creating the items part of your spell by setting up the area as sacred space and employing any other aspects of magical working you desire.

Fabric Transfer Spell
You can literally wear the word(s) of your choice or cut a piece of fabric to carry or display. The basic process is that you'll use text you create on your computer and then print that on special paper to create an iron-on image you can transfer to fabric.

You'll need: an iron, a heat-proof surface, fabric, ink-jet printer

The transfer paper will provide details on the process; it's quite simple. This method is often used to make easy DIY personalized T-shirts. The process is incredibly easy—you just have to choose which word and which fabric to use. It's been my experience that 100% cotton or a cotton blend works best.

First, create the word (or short phrase) on your computer, and be sure you have it set to the appropriate font, size, and color you desire. You may want to do a test-print with plain paper first. When you're ready, follow the instructions on the transfer sheet. Remember: the image needs to be printed in the opposite direction—a mirror image—so that it can be read properly after being ironed-on. The best way to accomplish this is to select the appropriate type of paper in the printer options. Or, you can simply create a mirror image style on your computer. Either way, this is the reason a test-print is important. The words must print backwards so they can be read correctly when transferred to the fabric.

After you have your word or phrase properly printed, the next step will be to prepare your area and iron the word(s) onto the fabric. Be sure to carefully follow the package directions. Cut carefully around the words before ironing; keep in mind that what you're transferring will have a slightly visible border around it. I find this process looks best on a light-colored fabric (white, ivory, or beige). The transfer paper instructions will most likely recommend that you don't use an ironing board but, instead, a hard table top protected with a sheet. This is presumably because an ironing board has a soft surface and something with more support is needed for this process.

After the transfer cools, you will peel it away to reveal your creation! I haven't personally done this on a garment, but I have used cloth napkins and small scraps of fabric from old clothes. You can also cut the fabric into a small shape that suits your purpose—such as a triangle, square, circle, etc.—or even create an elaborately formatted piece of word art on your computer. This is a fun way to create pieces that resemble old documents. I purchased some white fabric and dyed it with fresh walnuts from my yard to create something that looked like old parchment. I then cut the fabric, frayed the edges, and rolled them into scrolls.

Hot Glue Word Spell
This is a fun way to create a word (or even a sigil) that you can carry with you. Hot glue is basically liquid plastic (and it's non-biodegradable, so use it sparingly), so it's extremely versatile. But be careful if you're new to this process; the hot glue can stick to your skin and cause a serious burn.

You'll need: a hot glue "gun," glue sticks, cardboard, parchment paper

If you wish, first write the word out on the parchment with a pen or pencil. Place the parchment paper on the cardboard, and use the hot glue to write the word. When the glue cools, simply peel it off the parchment. As examples, you can write the word "love" if you're seeking a relationship or "strength," "courage," etc. if you're facing difficult situations. Create whatever word you need to use as a reminder of your spell goal.

Obviously, there may be some concerns about using this type of glue, since it's not environmentally friendly. You may be able to find eco-friendly types of hot glue on the market. If not, using the material in small amounts and not throwing it into a landfill can ease your conscience. To dispose of your word when finished is the difficult part' perhaps only use this type of creation for something you plan to keep and tuck it away somewhere when not actively using it.

It may take some practice to get the word to look the way you want, but remember that it doesn't have to be perfect. If you have trouble manipulating the glue, you can create the letters first and then use a line of glue, or little dots of glue, to link them. This process works best when writing in cursive. If you're familiar with rubber stamping, think about how those sets of letters look, how you can arrange them to connect together; this is a similar process. You can even use stencils as a guide. In addition, there are various colors of hot glue, and some contain glitter. Choose a color that corresponds with your spell goal.

One-Sentence Statement Spells
There's a Yiddish expression, "From your lips to god's ears," an old saying that basically means, "May what you say come to pass." Consider that as you create short, one-sentence statement spells which are, essentially, affirmations. For example, consider the first thing you say in the morning and the last thing at night before going to sleep. You can use these opportunities to make positive affirmations.

For example: "Today I will be patient and calm, no matter what the day brings." Or, "My slumber will be peaceful tonight and I'll wake up refreshed." You can also create a pair of "book-end" phrases: words you repeat morning and night for a specific purpose that are the same every time. When you make these statements a habit, they can become more powerful. But if they become simply mindless recitation, you may want to choose new ones. As with all spells, the intent behind your words is the real magic.