A magic spell is a set of words and actions intended to influence physical, emotional, or spiritual aspects of the real world. Magic spells, in one form or another, are an important part of many cultures. While there is a great deal of literature available on how to cast effective magic spells, however, few sources tell the spell-caster how long they need to wait before seeing the outcome of their spells.

Traditional Answers

According to various traditions, the outcome of a spell may take as little as a day or two or as long as several weeks. In many Pagan traditions, the general rule of thumb is that if you haven't seen something begin to manifest within four weeks (one lunar cycle), then you may need to revisit your working.

In other traditions, particularly in Hoodoo and rootwork, a spell is designed to be worked over a specific period (a seven-day candle spell, for instance). The results should appear within a designated amount of time after the working is complete.

Also, different types of spells work at different speeds. A spell to cure an illness may, for example, work faster than a love spell or a spell to attract money or change your luck.

How Do You Know if a Spell Is Working?

Typically, spells don't result in immediately visible outcomes. For example, a love spell may start with changes in the feelings of the person on whom the spell is cast. Even after their feelings have changed, it may take time for feelings to turn into actions or to develop fully.

Rather than spending time worrying about whether the spell is taking effect, it's often a good idea to go on with life as usual. Be aware of small changes that may indicate your spell is effecting change, even if the change is slower and subtler than you might prefer. A good idea is to keep a magical journal of some sort. Record what you did, when you did it, what the circumstances were, etc. Jot down everything that happens, so that you can look back later and see if it has begun to manifest.

What If My Spell Doesn't Seem to Be Working?

Bear in mind that sometimes you get results that aren't what you were expecting, and in that case, you might need to evaluate the method you used to cast the spell in the first place. That doesn't necessarily mean the spell didn't work; it could mean that your wording was too vague, or even too specific. Other issues may relate to the difficulty in staying focused, in sensing the energy around you, or in your self-confidence when it comes to successful spell casting.

It's also important to remember that spells can't change personalities, slow down time, or otherwise impact reality. If a love spell is to work, for example, the object of your spell must change their perceptions about you—and that can take time. Once the spell begins to work, it's important to avoid leaping forward too quickly; instead, carefully watch and wait until the moment is right to take advantage of the change you've started.