Spells Don’t Work. (And Why That’s Actually Good News)

At least that’s my take.

This may be one of the more controversial things I say as a tarot reader.

In the spiritual world, opinions on spells, manifestation rituals, and energetic practices vary widely. Some practitioners offer spell work as a service. Others sell spell kits designed to help people attract love, bring back an ex, or draw a specific person into their life.

But after many years on my own spiritual journey, I’ve come to the conclusion that may not be popular:

I don’t believe love spells work.

More specifically, I don’t believe any spell can override another person’s free will.

And honestly, I think that’s a beautiful thing.

The Foundation of Human Experience: Free Will

At the heart of all spirituality is the concept of free will.

We came here to experience life as human beings, making choices, learning lessons, and navigating relationships through our own decisions and personal growth. Free will is not a flaw in the system; it’s the entire point of being here.

Because of that, I don’t believe a spell can force someone to love you, return to you, think about you constantly, or suddenly change their mind about a relationship.

If someone has chosen to walk away, a spell cannot genuinely alter their soul’s choices or redirect their life path against their will.

Many of the spells sold online promise exactly that. They claim to bring back an ex-partner, make someone fall in love with you, or shift another person’s feelings in your favor.

But when we stop and think about it, does that really align with what we believe about spiritual growth and human experience?

If free will is sacred, then attempting to override it goes against the very foundation of that experience.

The Question We Rarely Ask Ourselves

Let’s assume for a moment that such a spell could work.

Would we truly want it to?

Would we want someone to choose us because we energetically manipulated the situation?

Would we want to wonder whether their feelings were real, or whether they had been influenced into seeing us differently?

Or would we rather be loved because someone freely, willingly, and wholeheartedly chose us?

Most people already know the answer deep down.

We want authentic love.

We want someone who looks at us and says, “I choose you.”

Not because they were persuaded.

Not because they were influenced.

Not because their emotions were altered.

But because they genuinely want to be with us.

As painful as heartbreak can be, there is something profoundly beautiful about allowing people the freedom to choose. Real love requires that freedom.

Why People Turn to Spells

I understand why people seek them out.

I really do.

Years ago, I made the same mistake.

Back in the 1990s, after experiencing heartbreak, I bought spell services myself. They didn’t work, but if I’m honest, part of me already knew that.

The problem wasn’t lack of intelligence.

It was pain.

When we are hurting, we become desperate for relief. When someone we love leaves, our mind searches for solutions. We want answers. We want control. We want the suffering to stop.

The ego convinces us that if we just do one more thing, say one more prayer, buy one more spell, perform one more ritual, we will finally get the outcome we want.

But often, what we are really trying to do is bypass the natural healing process.

We are trying to avoid acceptance.

And that is a very human response.

“But My Spell Worked…”

Sometimes people share stories about a spell that “brought their ex back.”

Could an ex return after a spell was performed?

Of course.

But I don’t believe the spell was the cause.

Relationships reconnect all the time. People heal. Timing shifts. Perspectives change. Lessons are learned.

In many cases, the reunion was already part of the path unfolding naturally.

More importantly, personal healing often plays the real role.

Growth changes relationships.

Healing changes relationships.

Self-awareness changes relationships.

A spell doesn’t create those things.

You do.

That is where real transformation happens.

The Beautiful Truth Behind Closed Doors

One of the hardest spiritual lessons is accepting that not every relationship is meant to last forever.

Some people come into our lives for a season.

Some arrive to teach us something.

Some help us see ourselves more clearly.

And some chapters are meant to close.

Not because we failed.

Not because we weren’t enough.

But because the story is meant to continue elsewhere.

If something is truly part of your path, it cannot miss you.

If your life includes marriage, family, partnership, or deep lasting love, those experiences are already woven into your journey.

You do not need to force them.

You do not need to chase them.

You do not need to cast spells to make them happen.

The path will unfold in its own timing.

Looking Back at the Bigger Picture

I often reflect on my own life.

Had I somehow “won back” a former partner years ago, my entire life would be different today.

I may never have met my husband.

I may never have had my daughter.

The life I cherish might never have existed.

At the time, I couldn’t see that.

When we are grieving, we rarely can.

We focus on what we’ve lost, not what is still ahead.

But life has a way of revealing why certain doors had to close.

What feels like an ending is often a redirection.

What This Means for My Readings

This philosophy also shapes the way I approach my readings.

You’ll never find me offering spell work, and I won’t focus a reading around trying to influence another person’s thoughts, feelings, or decisions.

That doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do when you are seeking love, healing from heartbreak, or navigating relationships. Quite the opposite.

My readings focus on the deeper soul work that creates lasting change.

Together, we explore the lessons, patterns, blocks, and opportunities present on your path. We look at where healing is needed, what your experiences are revealing, and how you can align more fully with the life and relationships that are truly meant for you.

In my experience, the most powerful transformations don’t happen through control - they happen through reconnection with self.

When we heal, grow, and step into alignment with who we truly are, we naturally begin to attract the connections and experiences that resonate with our energy.

That includes love.

The right relationship doesn’t need to be forced into existence. It doesn’t need to be manipulated or pulled into being. It can be welcomed, nurtured, and allowed to arrive at its own perfect timing.

Sometimes the journey toward love begins not with changing someone else, but with understanding yourself.

Trusting Divine Timing

Whether you are hoping for an ex to return or waiting for new love to enter your life, my message is the same:

Trust the process.

Trust your path.

Trust that what is meant for you will find its way to you.

I can’t tell you exactly when it will happen.

I can’t give you a date or guarantee a timeline.

But I do know love meant for you exists.

I know the opportunities meant for you exist.

I believe the experiences your soul came here to have are already unfolding, even when you can’t yet see them.

And that is why I don’t believe you need spell work to bring love into your life.

The love that is truly yours does not need to be forced.

It does not need to be manipulated.

It does not need to be chased.

It simply needs to be allowed.

Sometimes the greatest act of faith is not trying to control the outcome.

It is trusting that life may have a far greater plan than the one you are trying to hold onto.

And when you allow yourself to heal, grow, and follow the path unfolding before you, you may discover that what arrives is far more aligned—and far more beautiful—than anything you could have tried to manifest through force.

Melanie