Why "mote it be"?

In a lot of spells it says "so mote it be" at the end, why is that word so important and where is it from and why do so many spells have it?

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Saying "mote it be" is the same as saying "must it be", which is essentially you willing your spell into effect. Like putting the final emphasis of your intention of will on the spell.
Lol...I hope I'm making sense. I'm really tired. It's been a long day for me. Lol

Lotusdreamer: Ah OK, I thought it was a spell word needed otherwise it wouldn't work.

Well, I have done spells where I haven't used it but I really think it depends on the nature of the spell and the amount of energy you are raising. I would use it for spells using larger amounts of power so that there is no question of my intention or will. Large amounts of power can get chaotic if not directed properly, so intent needs to be clear.

normally the full phrase is 'as it harm none so mote it be' basically meaning 'so long as no one is negatively effected by this spell it is cast'. but as said above 'mote it be' basically means 'must it be'. you don't need to end your spells this way, most do because it's a type of safety net for most spells as mentioned above, 'as it harm none', many people don't want to effect others but will cast a spell without thinking it through fully, so normally this last line is used to stop the spell from causing a negative effect on another. wording is very important in spell casting, so know what you're saying, and watch what you're saying.