The only thing more popular than requests for money spells, it seems, are requests for love spells. You can even buy them on Ebay, but before you do, please fill in the blanks in this sentence:

A _____ and his_______ are soon _______. (hint: fool, money, parted)

In other words, you can pay upwards of twenty-five bucks, and no, the spell isn't more effective just because you spend more money. There's a pretty darn good chance that the person you Paypal your hard-earned cash to will take it and do something. Like fund his or her next vacation in Hawaii. Oh, your spell? Maybe, if they remember, they'll light a red candle for you.

You could have done that for free!

On the other hand, doing love spells in the first place really isn't that good an idea. Let me tell you why. Oh sure, you love him, you're obsessed with her, and maybe - just maybe - he or she really is someone you could spend the rest of your life with. But what if the object of your spell is secretly a drunk? Or abusive? Or a compulsive liar? Well, thanks to your "gimme, gimme" magickal working, you're kind of stuck now, aren't you?

But the biggest mark against love spells is that, all kidding aside, they're unethical. Think about it. How would you like to fall deeply and totally in love with the perfect someone, only to discover later that your feelings weren't real, but merely the result of a magickal working? Wouldn't you feel used? Lied to? Manipulated? And isn't that a really awful way to start a relationship? I wouldn't expect a romance based on lies and manipulation to last, would you?

If you wouldn't like a love spell cast on you, it's doubtful that the object of your affection would like it too much, either.

There is, however, one sort of love working that can be done - ethically - and with very good results, from what I've seen in my own life.

What you do is this: a spell for yourself, letting the Gods and the Universe know that you want love in your life. You send up a beacon on the astral (for want of a better word) that something in the one meant for you will respond to. And you'll find each other.

This takes time. It could take a year or more. In the meantime, do workings (magickal and non) that will make you a better candidate for a long-term relationship. If you need a better job, go out and find one. If you need to finish school, do so. Let go of past relationship baggage. Take care of your health. Be positive.

That's the best kind of magic there is!