February 5, 2001 11:54: With Valentines Day just around the corner, some might feel they need a little help to bring romance into their lives. LUCYA SZACHNOWSKI looks at love spells.

CENTURIES ago, if you wanted a love spell, you would have surreptitiously visited the village wisewoman. These days, you can buy them in Marks & Spencer.

This epitome of respectable high street stores, has just published a beautifully-produced little book, covered in red velvet, called Love: Titanias Wishing Spells, as part of its range of gifts for Valentines day.

The book, by Titania Hardie, contains a selection of traditional spells, charms and folklore intended to enhance an existing relationship, entice a reticent lover into closer confidence, mend a broken heart, or find out whether the one you want is right for you.

Titania says: My belief is we make them work through our own concentrated belief. Spells focus the mind, which is capable of miraculous things.

One example from Titanias book is a love talisman for Valentines day:

On the evening of the 13th, sprinkle rosewater on two bay leaves and place them in a cross shape under your pillow.

Take four more and place one at each corner of your pillow: six in total, the number of love.

Put on a clean T-shirt or nightdress, pure white in colour, and sprinkle this too with rosewater.

Now think hard of your lovers face, and make the following pledge: I will not be jealous but will trust in you, and I will not be possessive but give time and space to you; I will have confidence in your actions and dealings, and I will chide gently if you hurt my feelings. In short I will love you, and believe that you must love me too, if here you will be.

During your dreams your love will answer you, and give you a sign of fidelity on Valentines Day. If you have no special love, but do the regime above, you will soon find a partner.

Whether there is any truth behind the folklore, and whether charms like this actually work, is a matter for conjecture. For many, such romantic notions are just a bit of amusing fun. For others, they involve dabbling with dangerous forces. For some, they might offer the hope of making a dream come true.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said: I cast a love spell once, many years ago. I was feeling a bit down after I had split up with a long-term boyfriend. Shortly after I did the spell, a boy I knew at college became completely obsessed with me.

I was interested in him at first, then I realised I didnt love him in the slightest but he wouldnt leave me alone. He even split up with his girlfriend in order to increase his chances of going out with me.

I wouldnt do it again!

Krystyna, a Penge witch, said: I have cast love spells in the past, but only to help a person attract the right partner not to entice any particular individual. I am wary about doing anything which affected anyones free will, by magic or any other means. Not only is it dubious from a moral point of view, it could have bad repercussions.

Whether you want to take the risk of conjuring love for Valentines Day, or whether you simply fancy something to read to put you in the mood for romance, Love: Titanias Wishing Spells, at £5.99, might fit the bill.

But bear in mind the traditional wisewomans warning, be careful what you wish for, it might come true.