Poems, Spells and Potions

It Takes More than Three Objects to Summon Me

Cauldron candle crystal smoke

Have you seen the meme asking, “What three objects would you use in a ritual to summon me?” It surfaces from time to time, and I never answered because I could never nail it down to just three things. It tickled my brain, though, and being a witch and writer, I ended up writing a poem in answer.

More than three objects to summon me. I'm complicated, thank you socks.

What can I say, I’m complicated.

I thought about submitting this somewhere, but it’s so personal I wanted to keep it under my own wing. As Neil Gaiman says, poems are free.

Summoning Ritual

Music for the occasion:
any Wonder Stuff or Kila
Scarlett's Walk by Tori Amos
or in a pinch
Cheek to Cheek by Fred Astaire.

Don a piece of clothing
you wished you wore more often
because it's too fabulous
or ridiculous
for ordinary days.

Light a candle scented
like secrets, warm treats, old books:
amber, lemongrass, smoke, chocolate.

Draw a circle
in purple nail polish.
Inside draw a star
in silver Sharpie.
Sprinkle liberally
with coffee grounds, toast crumbs,
and a few cat hairs.

In one hand,
hold three treasures you found in the forest.
In the other,
three treasures you found on the beach.

Call out any
of my many names,
except, for B-words,
leave it
at "Beth."

What three things would someone put in a circle to summon you? Maybe more than three things? How would you use objects and ritual actions to imply your essential self?

All the best,

Ella Arrow Author

In case you’re wondering, here’s the music. The rest must be found on a quest of your own making.
The Wonder Stuff ~ KiLa ~ Tori Amos ~ Fred Astaire