Everyone wants a magical solution, but few want to believe in magic. Those that do often end up jaded and doubting because the results they get are not the results they imagined. The fact of the matter is much of what we used to think of as metaphysics is now being absorbed into the field of quantum physics. We know now that 90% of our physical universe is made up of particles that have no mass, that practically everything in existence is made up mostly of empty space and that there are particles that behave in ways we barely understand, including being influenced by our thoughts. In a universe of such astonishing possibilities how could “magic” not be one of them? Once upon a time the light bulb would have seemed like witchcraft and people literally could not have imagined something like the internet or cellular telephones. Is it not time that we admit there is clearly more to our universe and our potential as a species than we may be aware of?
What we commonly call “magic” is a natural force, or perhaps a collection of forces, which we have yet to fully explain. Nonetheless, people have studied and experimented with it for ages and found it to behave in certain ways resulting in many known “laws of magic” that make up the fundamental principles of magical practice. Among these are “the law of positive attraction” -that like energies tend to be drawn to one another, “the law of reciprocity” -that when a magical act is performed the result of that act will return to the source in one form or another. These and many other magical laws have moral, philosophical, and scientific application which is one of the reasons the study of magic could be so important as it may truly be thought of as a “holistic science” uniting the abstract with the physical.
There are also various “schools” of magic, different divisions of practice each with their own approach. Natural magic utilizes physical objects and ingredients in conjunction with principles such as “the doctrine of signatures” which states that the potential of a thing is reflected in its physical properties, or the “principle of contagion” which implies a continued metaphysical connection between things which have previously been in physical contact for a period of time. Thought magic uses techniques of self-hypnosis or “mind over matter” to influence the physical universe by way of intentional conscious patterns. Energy magic involves the channeling, charging and directing of unseen forces believed to be present in all things and often strives to work in conjunction with the ebb and flow of these forces such as by performing certain kinds of magical work under a particular phase of the moon or attempting to heal something in the body during a certain time of day because the “chi” is more concentrated in that area at that time.
On that note, there are many forms of magical energy and many names for the magical forces, some of which can actually serve as classifications of various forms. For example “chi” (also “qi”) mentioned above is a Chinese word for the metaphysical energy that flows through the body. This is quite similar to the Hindi “prana” which is also seen as existing outside the body and capable of being channeled and absorbed from the universe through breath. “Mana” is a Polynesian term for a similar force which is found in all of nature and can be built up and stored like a magical battery. There is also “sassa” a term with African roots which refers to a force that disturbs or aggravates the mind but can still be absorbed or directed by a knowledgeable practitioner. The ancient Norse discovered many forms of magical energy which worked like a synergistic complex to make up the whole person. Among these are the “hamingja” an energy which comes through the ancestry, “ond” the breath of life similar to “prana” above, “maegn” a power gained or lost through deeds, “litr” or vitality and “hamr” the energetic counterpart to the physical body. All forms of magic interact with these various fields and forms of energy to create changes in the physical world.
Considering that we now understand the connection between matter and energy much better from a scientific standpoint I posit that a more serious look at these ancient concepts is warranted, for through them we may find greater understanding of our universe, nature and our place within it. Consider as well that in ancient times, before we had the scientific understand that we do now, people commonly relied on “magical” skills in their daily lives. Much of the old “magic” has now become common sense and is well understood scientifically, yet much of it remains unexplained and un-analyzed, chalked up to “primitive superstition” of lesser minds. However, those minds were no different than our minds anthropologically speaking, and the mind itself is hardly understood at all by even the most modern sciences. Perhaps there is yet some truth to those old ways, some potential now forgotten but not lost waiting to be tapped once again. It is for this reason I prefer to think of “magic” as “organic technology” inherent in nature and mankind, not a shadow of an ignorant past, but the way of an enlightened future.
It is my belief that the people of the past would not have continued to use magic if it never worked and that the station of “magical professionals” such as shamans, wortcunning folk, wise women, witches, alchemists and sorcerers served more than just a social purpose. Modern chemistry came from ancient alchemy and modern medicine is still derived from “primitive” herbalism of shamans and cunning folk. Considering most of the universe is unseen and unknown I find it completely plausible that there could be “spirits” all around us capable of assisting us in making changes in our environment and our lives. I see no good reason why, if particles can be moved by thought, plants and water crystals can be influenced by emotions (both definitively proven in laboratory environments) we couldn’t tap into unseen energies and use them to make any number of seemingly miraculous things happen. After all, electricity is energy, light is energy, sound is energy, we use those all the time and think nothing of it when results are produced by them. We have come to understand the way these forms of energy work, their potential and their limitations. We have not delved into research of “magical” forces yet and so results are obviously going to be less predictable, but that doesn’t mean that results cannot be gotten.
Consider that there are so many different forces at work in any given situation, forces which we do not fully understand. Consider the fact that magical acts are often called to manifest grand results in highly complex situations. Consider as well that, as stated above, people did rely on magic for a long time and must have gotten results often enough to believe it was worth repeating the same process to get that result again. We must understand that miracles can be real and still be inconsistent. Take, for example, a “love spell” meant to bring together two people who have been at odds with each other. Firstly, there are any number of physical, emotional, psychological, conscious and subconscious factors at work which are causing these people to have conflict. Furthermore, there may be social, geographical and financial gaps which need to be mended before a complete convergence could be made possible. We know that to turn on a light we must flip a switch and complete the circuit. We also know that if there are resistors put in place that the light may dim, blink, or not work at all. Magic is a science, but it is not a well understood science and if we keep in mind that there are many factors that must be influenced simultaneously we should be able to accept the unpredictability of magic and still appreciate the result even if it is not ideal. After all, we don’t usually think about the process of extracting the raw elements and manufacturing the battery that powers our little closed circuit light switch experiment do we? The energy is there, the potential is there, but bringing it all together is infinitely more complex than it would seem on the surface. Okham’s razor, the simplicity or complexity of an experiment is directly proportional to it’s predictability.
Another important factor in magical practice is that of probability versus possibility. We may accept that most anything is possible, but certain things are certainly more probable. The more probable a result the easier it will be to produce it. Moving an object through space with nothing more than the power of the mind is certainly possible, but experiments have shown it works more consistently on an extremely small scale. How to apply this to larger objects has yet to be discovered, but that does not mean it is completely impossible or that some people could not stumble upon a way to do it without completely understanding how the did thus making reproduction of the result much more difficult. So, if a “love spell” works fantastically well in one case, but fails utterly in another, it does not mean that the first case was mere coincidence and immediately falsify all love spells, it just means that the desired result was more probable in one case than in the other. It doesn’t mean that the person performing the magical act is without power, just that there was less resistance in the circuit so to speak. It is for this reason alone that the fantastical forms of magic are not seen in every day life. To conjure a fire breathing dragon out of thin air is highly improbable, but to conjure rain on a cloudy day is not. Conjuring rain on a sunny day is less probable than on a cloudy day, but still well within the realm of possibility, unlike physically transforming oneself into a bat which lies at the far reaches of possibility at best. An unexpected, undesired or less than ideal result is still a result. Be open to possibilities and observe everything, even when it does not support your hypothesis it can still be a clue to another experiment. In time, you can isolate various components, bring them together in different ways, and produce more consistent results.
With time and practice come experience and knowledge, the kind of knowledge that only comes firsthand. It is for this reason that so much of magic cannot be fully explained or described. It is also for this reason we tend to look to those who have been practicing longer for results in magical work and as mentors in magical teaching. There is no real mystery to oral tradition. It is a handy bit of propaganda that helps people sell their products and services, but that is all the “secrets” really amount to. It doesn’t take much effort to dig up a few of these “secrets” for yourself, but it does take active experimentation and a sincere pursuit of the underlying mysteries to begin to understand magic enough to get results. So we look to old “grimoires” books of magic written by those who came before us. Think of these as the notes of your fellow scientists whose experiments may or may not have proven their theories which may or may not have been accurate. We can only assume that they tested their theories but we cannot be certain that they got the results they wanted if they did or that we can faithfully reproduce their work. All we can really do is experiment, observe, modify and retest. Again, just because one thing does not work it does not mean that nothing ever will. What works for one person does not always work for another because the conditions and the unseen energies surrounding them and the situation could be dramatically different. Until we better understand these energies, what they are, how they work and how to accurately gauge them, much of magic is shooting blind. It is the belief of some that there are magical forces which can be transferred through the DNA while others can be bestowed through ritual attunement. It is perhaps because of the presence of these forces that some people have better results with certain magical works than others.
I do believe that anyone can use magic. I am also aware that people all have a unique energy signature and if there are different types of forces that are worked with in magical practice it only stands to reason that an individual’s signature would have some bearing on their work. After all, everything is energy. Magnets and electricity respond to different charges, so it is likely there are different charges in magic too and that they will also respond to each other in different ways. Considering the expansiveness of magic in all its myriad forms, it also makes sense that there would be more than just the two charges we are used to with electricity and magnetism, which would account for much of the complexity and unpredictability. If we accept that there are spirits, sentient beings without corporeal forms that can be perceived on this plane, then we must accept that these beings may work with some people and not with others. If we accept that there are magical forces transferred through DNA we must also accept that even among people of shared heritage the sequence can be slightly different. If we accept that some magical forces are only able to be tapped into with proper attunement, we must also accept that there may be different frequencies with different properties and modes of interaction with other frequencies. In music, you can play an E chord above or below middle C but it will sound different because it is at a higher or lower frequency. When you start trying to play new chords you have to get all the notes right for it to sound right. Too many, too few, or one note just a little off key and you won’t have a proper chord. In magical work, if any element is not “in tune” you won’t get the “sound” you are looking for.
People who work with magical forces often spend a great deal of time in meditation or communing with spiritual forces. This is a way of “harmonizing” their energies with the forces that they work with. Many of them also employ some form of “divination” a method of observing these spiritual forces from a different perspective. Often a divination will reveal a problem that the worker had not yet considered, forcing them to weigh other options or formulate an alternative approach. Those who use divination in conjunction with magical work report far greater success than those who simply try and manifest the changes they think they want by will alone without considering alternatives. Maybe it is a joint effort between the magician and their spirits, maybe it is a simple matter of fine tuning the individual energies, either way, magic seems to work better for everyone who uses a tempered method rather than one of blind desire.
With a sincere approach we can, and will develop a better understanding of the mysterious forces behind magic. With that understanding we will also come to better understand our selves, nature and the universe. One principle of magic that has always held true for every culture is that we are all connected. From the atom to the solar system, from the single cell to the vast expanse of galaxies, everything is reflected in everything else. We are carbon scattered like seeds by stars who now look to the heavens, back at the light from whence we fell.
What we commonly call “magic” is a natural force, or perhaps a collection of forces, which we have yet to fully explain. Nonetheless, people have studied and experimented with it for ages and found it to behave in certain ways resulting in many known “laws of magic” that make up the fundamental principles of magical practice. Among these are “the law of positive attraction” -that like energies tend to be drawn to one another, “the law of reciprocity” -that when a magical act is performed the result of that act will return to the source in one form or another. These and many other magical laws have moral, philosophical, and scientific application which is one of the reasons the study of magic could be so important as it may truly be thought of as a “holistic science” uniting the abstract with the physical.
There are also various “schools” of magic, different divisions of practice each with their own approach. Natural magic utilizes physical objects and ingredients in conjunction with principles such as “the doctrine of signatures” which states that the potential of a thing is reflected in its physical properties, or the “principle of contagion” which implies a continued metaphysical connection between things which have previously been in physical contact for a period of time. Thought magic uses techniques of self-hypnosis or “mind over matter” to influence the physical universe by way of intentional conscious patterns. Energy magic involves the channeling, charging and directing of unseen forces believed to be present in all things and often strives to work in conjunction with the ebb and flow of these forces such as by performing certain kinds of magical work under a particular phase of the moon or attempting to heal something in the body during a certain time of day because the “chi” is more concentrated in that area at that time.
On that note, there are many forms of magical energy and many names for the magical forces, some of which can actually serve as classifications of various forms. For example “chi” (also “qi”) mentioned above is a Chinese word for the metaphysical energy that flows through the body. This is quite similar to the Hindi “prana” which is also seen as existing outside the body and capable of being channeled and absorbed from the universe through breath. “Mana” is a Polynesian term for a similar force which is found in all of nature and can be built up and stored like a magical battery. There is also “sassa” a term with African roots which refers to a force that disturbs or aggravates the mind but can still be absorbed or directed by a knowledgeable practitioner. The ancient Norse discovered many forms of magical energy which worked like a synergistic complex to make up the whole person. Among these are the “hamingja” an energy which comes through the ancestry, “ond” the breath of life similar to “prana” above, “maegn” a power gained or lost through deeds, “litr” or vitality and “hamr” the energetic counterpart to the physical body. All forms of magic interact with these various fields and forms of energy to create changes in the physical world.
Considering that we now understand the connection between matter and energy much better from a scientific standpoint I posit that a more serious look at these ancient concepts is warranted, for through them we may find greater understanding of our universe, nature and our place within it. Consider as well that in ancient times, before we had the scientific understand that we do now, people commonly relied on “magical” skills in their daily lives. Much of the old “magic” has now become common sense and is well understood scientifically, yet much of it remains unexplained and un-analyzed, chalked up to “primitive superstition” of lesser minds. However, those minds were no different than our minds anthropologically speaking, and the mind itself is hardly understood at all by even the most modern sciences. Perhaps there is yet some truth to those old ways, some potential now forgotten but not lost waiting to be tapped once again. It is for this reason I prefer to think of “magic” as “organic technology” inherent in nature and mankind, not a shadow of an ignorant past, but the way of an enlightened future.
It is my belief that the people of the past would not have continued to use magic if it never worked and that the station of “magical professionals” such as shamans, wortcunning folk, wise women, witches, alchemists and sorcerers served more than just a social purpose. Modern chemistry came from ancient alchemy and modern medicine is still derived from “primitive” herbalism of shamans and cunning folk. Considering most of the universe is unseen and unknown I find it completely plausible that there could be “spirits” all around us capable of assisting us in making changes in our environment and our lives. I see no good reason why, if particles can be moved by thought, plants and water crystals can be influenced by emotions (both definitively proven in laboratory environments) we couldn’t tap into unseen energies and use them to make any number of seemingly miraculous things happen. After all, electricity is energy, light is energy, sound is energy, we use those all the time and think nothing of it when results are produced by them. We have come to understand the way these forms of energy work, their potential and their limitations. We have not delved into research of “magical” forces yet and so results are obviously going to be less predictable, but that doesn’t mean that results cannot be gotten.
Consider that there are so many different forces at work in any given situation, forces which we do not fully understand. Consider the fact that magical acts are often called to manifest grand results in highly complex situations. Consider as well that, as stated above, people did rely on magic for a long time and must have gotten results often enough to believe it was worth repeating the same process to get that result again. We must understand that miracles can be real and still be inconsistent. Take, for example, a “love spell” meant to bring together two people who have been at odds with each other. Firstly, there are any number of physical, emotional, psychological, conscious and subconscious factors at work which are causing these people to have conflict. Furthermore, there may be social, geographical and financial gaps which need to be mended before a complete convergence could be made possible. We know that to turn on a light we must flip a switch and complete the circuit. We also know that if there are resistors put in place that the light may dim, blink, or not work at all. Magic is a science, but it is not a well understood science and if we keep in mind that there are many factors that must be influenced simultaneously we should be able to accept the unpredictability of magic and still appreciate the result even if it is not ideal. After all, we don’t usually think about the process of extracting the raw elements and manufacturing the battery that powers our little closed circuit light switch experiment do we? The energy is there, the potential is there, but bringing it all together is infinitely more complex than it would seem on the surface. Okham’s razor, the simplicity or complexity of an experiment is directly proportional to it’s predictability.
Another important factor in magical practice is that of probability versus possibility. We may accept that most anything is possible, but certain things are certainly more probable. The more probable a result the easier it will be to produce it. Moving an object through space with nothing more than the power of the mind is certainly possible, but experiments have shown it works more consistently on an extremely small scale. How to apply this to larger objects has yet to be discovered, but that does not mean it is completely impossible or that some people could not stumble upon a way to do it without completely understanding how the did thus making reproduction of the result much more difficult. So, if a “love spell” works fantastically well in one case, but fails utterly in another, it does not mean that the first case was mere coincidence and immediately falsify all love spells, it just means that the desired result was more probable in one case than in the other. It doesn’t mean that the person performing the magical act is without power, just that there was less resistance in the circuit so to speak. It is for this reason alone that the fantastical forms of magic are not seen in every day life. To conjure a fire breathing dragon out of thin air is highly improbable, but to conjure rain on a cloudy day is not. Conjuring rain on a sunny day is less probable than on a cloudy day, but still well within the realm of possibility, unlike physically transforming oneself into a bat which lies at the far reaches of possibility at best. An unexpected, undesired or less than ideal result is still a result. Be open to possibilities and observe everything, even when it does not support your hypothesis it can still be a clue to another experiment. In time, you can isolate various components, bring them together in different ways, and produce more consistent results.
With time and practice come experience and knowledge, the kind of knowledge that only comes firsthand. It is for this reason that so much of magic cannot be fully explained or described. It is also for this reason we tend to look to those who have been practicing longer for results in magical work and as mentors in magical teaching. There is no real mystery to oral tradition. It is a handy bit of propaganda that helps people sell their products and services, but that is all the “secrets” really amount to. It doesn’t take much effort to dig up a few of these “secrets” for yourself, but it does take active experimentation and a sincere pursuit of the underlying mysteries to begin to understand magic enough to get results. So we look to old “grimoires” books of magic written by those who came before us. Think of these as the notes of your fellow scientists whose experiments may or may not have proven their theories which may or may not have been accurate. We can only assume that they tested their theories but we cannot be certain that they got the results they wanted if they did or that we can faithfully reproduce their work. All we can really do is experiment, observe, modify and retest. Again, just because one thing does not work it does not mean that nothing ever will. What works for one person does not always work for another because the conditions and the unseen energies surrounding them and the situation could be dramatically different. Until we better understand these energies, what they are, how they work and how to accurately gauge them, much of magic is shooting blind. It is the belief of some that there are magical forces which can be transferred through the DNA while others can be bestowed through ritual attunement. It is perhaps because of the presence of these forces that some people have better results with certain magical works than others.
I do believe that anyone can use magic. I am also aware that people all have a unique energy signature and if there are different types of forces that are worked with in magical practice it only stands to reason that an individual’s signature would have some bearing on their work. After all, everything is energy. Magnets and electricity respond to different charges, so it is likely there are different charges in magic too and that they will also respond to each other in different ways. Considering the expansiveness of magic in all its myriad forms, it also makes sense that there would be more than just the two charges we are used to with electricity and magnetism, which would account for much of the complexity and unpredictability. If we accept that there are spirits, sentient beings without corporeal forms that can be perceived on this plane, then we must accept that these beings may work with some people and not with others. If we accept that there are magical forces transferred through DNA we must also accept that even among people of shared heritage the sequence can be slightly different. If we accept that some magical forces are only able to be tapped into with proper attunement, we must also accept that there may be different frequencies with different properties and modes of interaction with other frequencies. In music, you can play an E chord above or below middle C but it will sound different because it is at a higher or lower frequency. When you start trying to play new chords you have to get all the notes right for it to sound right. Too many, too few, or one note just a little off key and you won’t have a proper chord. In magical work, if any element is not “in tune” you won’t get the “sound” you are looking for.
People who work with magical forces often spend a great deal of time in meditation or communing with spiritual forces. This is a way of “harmonizing” their energies with the forces that they work with. Many of them also employ some form of “divination” a method of observing these spiritual forces from a different perspective. Often a divination will reveal a problem that the worker had not yet considered, forcing them to weigh other options or formulate an alternative approach. Those who use divination in conjunction with magical work report far greater success than those who simply try and manifest the changes they think they want by will alone without considering alternatives. Maybe it is a joint effort between the magician and their spirits, maybe it is a simple matter of fine tuning the individual energies, either way, magic seems to work better for everyone who uses a tempered method rather than one of blind desire.
With a sincere approach we can, and will develop a better understanding of the mysterious forces behind magic. With that understanding we will also come to better understand our selves, nature and the universe. One principle of magic that has always held true for every culture is that we are all connected. From the atom to the solar system, from the single cell to the vast expanse of galaxies, everything is reflected in everything else. We are carbon scattered like seeds by stars who now look to the heavens, back at the light from whence we fell.
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