The Art of Magick
Magic [1] can be at the very heart of what it means to be a Witch, although it is generally viewed as being of secondary importance to the worship of the Goddess and God.
Magical practices have existed in all cultures and at all times and continue to
have a permanent presence and influence in human society. In this sense they are comparable to Astrology and religion. At various times in history magic has been the subject of persecution and the victim of frequent misrepresentation, most familiarly, of course, as a science of evil. Like many areas of human knowledge and expertise it is an evolving art with diverse strands. It can be a complicated and overwhelming subject for the beginner. It is not a religion, although it can have goals that are in line with religious aspirations.
One of the most famous definitions of magic was given by Aleister Crowley
who wrote that it could be considered as, "The science and art of causing changes to occur in conformity with will"[2].
Magic relies on the active participation of the individual in all its processes. It is not something for those who wish to passively listen and observe. To succeed in magic's ends, the Witch or magician has to learn to control themselves and their
surroundings. There is a wide range of magical techniques that must be mastered to create the desired results.
Magic can be divided into High and Low Magic and Wicca combines aspects
of both. At root, High Magic is a series of disciplines that aim to provide the
practitioner with the means of realizing their spirituality to its full extent, the ultimate aspiration of which is to effect Union with the Divine. Its practices are generally based on a range of ancient frameworks such as Astrology, Alchemy and, most especially, the Kabbalah. Once a reasonable level of skill in these things has been acquired the practitioner is then in a position to enlist the help of their Holy Guardian Angel or Spirit guide in approaching the heavenly. Much of this relies on a great deal of knowledge acquired over time as well as a disciplined regimen of magical exercises. This is not for everyone, as it requires the devotion of a relatively large section of one's life to its practice.
Low Magic differs from High Magic in a variety of ways. The most important
of these is that although Low Magic's aim is the control of oneself and one's surroundings, it does not usually have the ultimate end goal of absorption into the divine. Low Magic is generally based on folklore and its techniques. Its practices involve such things as herbal remedies, spells to cure ailments or achieve desires, and ceremonial offerings that give thanks to the goddesses and gods. It should not be construed that the term "low" implies that such magic is ineffective, or that it does not have a real importance.
What every beginner wants to know is "does magic work?" And, of course, the answer to this must be a resounding yes, although with some notable qualifications.
Sometimes newcomers have unrealistic expectations and will attempt to rely on magic to find their way through life and, perhaps as a result of this, there can be a lot of debate amongst Witches about how frequently magic should be practiced; especially the use of spells. One of the ways I like to explain its use is to say that magic is often at its most effective when it is part of a strategy to achieve something. For example, just using magical techniques in a bid to make you healthier, wealthier, bigger, better or closer to deity will rarely work, if ever. Yet, it can be a most effective part of a program of achievement.
A useful analogy is to think of an athlete. The most successful runners, for example, will tell you that their success isn't just down to a talent at running. They have a special diet, they train their mind as much as their body, they goal-focus, have the right shoes and clothes, make sure they rest correctly and so on. Their success is based on a range of things. It's the same with goals that Witches have; magic is frequently used as part of an overall strategy to achieve them. Incidentally, you can certainly use this art to help you run faster when you use it as part of an holistic program.
Magic will not turn toads into princes or stones into gold, despite what many
stories will lead you to believe. Magic works with nature and according to its laws. This is a very important point to grasp and is often completely missed by the beginner and "expert" alike. Don't let this put you off though, if we think of Crowley's definition above, about causing "change to happen in conformity with will", you will realize that the human Spirit and mind are capable of achieving many seemingly impossible things, when will is focused.
In this course you will only ever come across techniques that are tried, tested
and safe. However, magic is a serious subject and should be treated with respect. It is not for dabblers who experiment with advanced topics that they know little about. Think of it like a box of matches. Obviously, when misused, these objects can cause harm, yet, when used wisely, they provide the means of warmth and the ability to cook. Magic is the same, use it wisely and it will be your friend and help you achieve many things, use it badly and it has the potential to hurt you and others around you. This is one of the reasons that Wiccan training isn't generally offered to the very young as a certain level of maturity is needed.
Many Wiccans (although not all) believe in the law of threefold return. That is,
if you wish harm on others you can expect it to return to you with three times the force. On the other hand, use magic for the benefit of others and you will find the whole quality of your life is enhanced.
The energy to practice magic comes from three sources:
• The Earth
• Ourselves
• The Goddess and God
Throughout the lesson the above should be borne in mind as Witches
consciously use all three towards their ends. The power of the Earth comes from its own inner energy that lives in the trees, plants, wind, seas, crystals and scents. Each of these has their own distinct energy that can be drawn upon for specific work, and is one of the reasons why herbs and crystals are often associated with magic. More than this, the Earth also exudes a kind of life force that some describe using the Hindu word prana. Pranic energy is often visualized as shining golden light that can be literally breathed in to invigorate both the body and soul, and to aid the goals of magic.
Within ourselves we have an inner vitality that we get from breath, exercise of
all kinds (including sex), food, water, the Moon and the Sun.
Finally, there is the power of the Goddess and the God, which is in reality the
power behind all things.
Energy is in a constant state of flux; nothing is ever static and everything is
changing. We are part of a great cosmic dance that goes on around and within us. Everything that we think and do constantly affects our environment. On one level this is so obvious that we barely stop to think about it. We speak, move and touch, and something happens in response. Yet at heart this is magical and is something that is often not recognized or understood as such. We are all able to work magic in the sense of willing a thing to happen, taking action and achieving it; you can probably think of a number of instances when this has happened to you. But the challenge is to enjoy dependable achievements in magical workings.