First of all, we should clarify what a “magic spell” is. The original word is the Germanic spel, which appears to have been a very nuanced and formidable expression meaning story, or storytelling, or song, and even at times sermon or similar inspiring feat of speech.
Over time it graduated to refer to magically charged words and specifically to the recitation of these words to create magical effects. Therefore in precise terms a spell is the incantation, or verbal component of magical work that is spoken chanted, or sung to unleash magical forces.
I love the etymological origin, as it perfectly captures the variant and potent nature of magic. A spell can indeed take the form of a story, song, affirmation, appellation, command, poem, cry of outrage, sermon, and any other expression we might think of.
From the early modern period to the 19th century (somewhere thereabouts at a best guess) the terms “magic spell” came to be a synonym for any magical operation, even those that do not include a verbal component! So on one hand, that of proper terminology, a spell is the verbal portion of magic work that focuses the magician’s will while on the other hand of common vernacular it can be used to refer to any individual feat of magical work.
There are Many Ways to Enact Magic…
Knowing the most correct use of the term “spell” but being unafraid to use the more inclusive, extended version in common usage, let’s look at some possibilities of how you can cast a magic spell.