People sometimes say “words are spells” as a metaphor for how language influences us. But this isn’t just poetic speech. Across cultures, the power of the spoken word has been treated as literally magical. Even our everyday language hints at it: we “cast” a vote, “invoke” a law, “curse” someone, or “bless” them. And of course, we “spell” words.
Spelling as Casting
The English word “spell” originally meant “story” or “speech” (Old English spellian = to tell). Only later did it come to mean “magical incantation” and also “arranging letters.” This double meaning is no accident. In European folk practice, to “spell” was to speak something into being to weave letters and sounds with intent. When we write, we still “spell,” arranging symbols to create reality in someone else’s mind.
Kotodama: The Spirit of Words
The Japanese concept kotodama (言霊) literally means “word-spirit” or “soul of language.” Rooted in Shinto belief, kotodama teaches that words carry vibrations that can affect the world. This is why traditional prayers, imperial proclamations, and poetry were considered powerful: the sound and rhythm of the words themselves invoked specific energies. Even today, Japanese martial arts and Shinto rituals use carefully chosen words and chants to align the practitioner with purity, focus, and protection.
Other Cultures and Sacred Speech
You’ll find similar ideas across the globe.
In Ancient Egypt the god Thoth was said to have created the world through speech and writing. Hieroglyphs weren’t just marks; they were living signs.
In Hebrew Mysticism and Kabbalah each Hebrew letter has a numeric and energetic value. Pronouncing or arranging them correctly was believed to open channels to divine realities.
In Christianity “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1). Creation itself is described as spoken. Blessings and curses are both framed as speech acts.
In Indigenous Traditions many First Nations cultures treat names and songs as living medicine. Speaking someone’s “true name” or singing a song can call forth healing or guidance.
In Islam the Qur’an is considered powerful not only in meaning but in recitation (tajwīd). Sound and vibration are inseparable from the text’s efficacy.
In Vedic India mantras are “tools of thought” but also sonic formulas. Their power lies not only in their meaning but in their exact pronunciation, meter, and repetition.
Modern Science Meets Ancient Insight
We now know words can shape neurobiology. Affirmations, guided imagery, and even placebo effects work partly through language. Words influence hormones, heart rate, and brain networks. In this sense, calling words “spells” isn’t superstition but a recognition of their subtle power to rewire perception and behavior.
Practical Ways to Work with the “Spells” of Language
- Choose your words with intention. Internal self-talk is a constant incantation.
- Slow down and feel the energy of words when you speak them. This increases awareness of their impact.
- Use ritual language, a mantra, a prayer, a daily affirmation, to anchor your nervous system and focus your intent.
- Listen for the “word-spirit” in others. Notice how different speech changes a room’s energy.
- Journal. Express yourself without judgment and witness your feelings and thoughts about the reality external and internal.
Key Takeaways from Different Traditions
Japanese (Kotodama): Words hold spirits. Their sound and rhythm matter as much as meaning.
Greek and Roman: To “spell” is to narrate or to cast. Words open kairos, the right moment.
Egyptian: Speech and hieroglyphs are creative forces.
Hebrew and Kabbalah: Letters and sounds are channels of divine power.
Christianity and Islam: Creation, blessings, and scripture are spoken, recited, and sung, not just written.
Indigenous and Vedic traditions: Songs, names, and mantras carry living medicine.
Across these systems, language is never neutral. It’s vibration, intention, and pattern, a kind of technology of consciousness.
References & Inspirations
- Old English spellian and Middle English “spell” (Oxford English Dictionary)
- Kotodama: The Japanese Philosophy of Sacred Words (Yamamoto, 2017)
- John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word…”)
- Gershom Scholem, Kabbalah (on Hebrew letters and creation)
- Frits Staal, Rules Without Meaning (on Vedic mantras)