In witchcraft, the timing of your spellwork is considered important, much like the ingredients or intentions you use. For example, love spells are often performed on Fridays. This day is linked to Venus, the planet and goddess associated with love, beauty, and attraction. When a Friday also falls on a New Moon, it is thought to be an especially powerful time for starting new relationships or setting intentions related to romance. Many believe that this combination increases the energy of your spell, making it a good moment to focus on matters of the heart.
The colors you use in your rituals also have symbolic meanings. Pink is often connected to affection and gentle love. Red represents passion and desire, while orange is linked to attraction and enthusiasm. Yellow is associated with joy, communication, and friendship. By including these colors in your candles, altar cloths, or other ritual tools, you can help direct your spell toward the specific kind of love energy you want to create.
Numbers are another important part of many magickal traditions. They can help focus your intention or call in certain energies. For instance, the number 2 is commonly used in love spells to symbolize partnership and balance. You might use two candles or tie two ribbons together to represent the union of two people.
In some traditions, specific numbers are linked to particular deities. If you wish to connect with Oshun, the Orisha of Love in Yoruba tradition, the number 5 is considered sacred. Offerings to Oshun are often made in groups of five. Using five flowers or five coins in your ritual can help invite her blessings for love, fertility, and harmony.
The number 6 is associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Ancient rituals for Aphrodite often included the number six, which is connected to harmony and sensuality. Using six rose petals or six drops of essential oil in your spell can help align your work with her energy.
The number 8 stands for infinity and eternity, and is linked to Inanna, the Sumerian Queen of Heaven. Inanna’s stories often involve cycles of love, death, and rebirth. Using the number eight in your spell—such as arranging items in a figure-eight or repeating a chant eight times—can help call on her influence for lasting or transformative love.
Many magickal traditions include ritual purification. For example, washing your hands with rose water before making love potions or powders is believed to cleanse your energy and make your work more effective. Rose water is traditionally connected to love and beauty, adding extra meaning to your preparations.
If your love spells are not working as you hope, some traditions suggest a gentle way to remove obstacles. Placing a strand of your target’s hair under a dripping faucet is thought to slowly dissolve resistance, allowing your intentions to move more freely. This method uses water’s connection to emotion and gradual change, and comes from folk magick practices in different cultures.