Back in the day there were telecasts, and now we have podcasts. But down through history there have always been spell casts. These were cast by witches and wizards who have cast spells over those who were terrified by their chants and weird practices.
I’ve been through part of the Black Forest in Germany, and can well imagine how the fear of spells cast in the gloom of such places instilled fear in the hearts of people. Many indigenous Australians are still fearful of the ‘pointing of the bone’: their belief in the words spoken against them kill those who believe in their power, regardless of distance.
But fear and dread more often come in ‘spells’ cast by those who do not wish us well. Bearing in mind that spells cast are spell casts, here are some secular versions of them that are cast nowadays :
*Evil predictions spoken over schoolchildren by teachers who take a set against them, because of their pupils’ ethnic origin or cultural background;
* Religious cult spell-predictions of doom spoken by dominant deceivers over those who wish to leave but are too weak to resist the stronger personality, and so are unable to leave the cult.
* The media ‘spell’ of a movie or showbiz idol, as seen in its effects on teens (and their mothers, who fell under the ‘spell’ of ‘stars’ and idols who were dominant back in their own day).
* ‘Spells’ cast by expectant parents who wanted a boy but got a girl instead. These come in the form of reminders to the girl that “We wanted a boy but got you!” Or, other, equally damaging spell casts. Back in the day it resulted in girls becoming tomboys, but these days it can result in feelings of transgenderism and then to operations, which are irreversible.
*Repetitive judgements over partners in marriage who are told they are “never good enough” and that they “don’t measure up” to their partner’s expectations.
The renegade prophet Balaam tried to curse the camp of God’s people for reward from a mountain top, but failed because (in his words): “God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.” (Numbers, chapters 23 & 24)
A curse or spell can have only the power that we allow it by our belief in its power on us. Turn unbelief loose against verbal curses and “every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”! (2 Corinthians 10:5)