whatismagick

Magick, in its simplest form, is merely transformation or change caused by energy. We see transformations and changes caused by energy everyday, and I dare to say that many of them don't seem all that magickal! How magickal are forest fires that burn and destroy thousands of acres? But, by definition, they are, because they cause a huge transformation with energy. I think most people define magick as the bending and shaping of energy that is done in a purposeful way by either a single person or a group of two or more. We must also realize that magick is something that we have in us from birth because we are from, and of, the Source. The Source is energy. We are of the Source. We are energy. Magick is energy.

Everything has its own unique vibration or energy level. All living things have an energy field or aura that can be seen either by sight, for some perceptive individuals, by medical equipment, or special photographic equipment called Kirilian photography. It is an electrical field that can actually be measured by these devices. You can also see it in EEG, EKG and other medical test that charts "activity" of the brain, heart or nervous systems. This energy is what makes us living beings. When that energy is gone from the body we cease to exist in this form. (Some people refer to this particular form of energy as the soul.) Therefore, it can be argued that we are energy. We are energy and since magick is energy and energy is magick, we are magick. There is no division. There is no separation. They are one in the same. You are magick. Remember that and never forget that simple yet valuable piece of information.

The truth is, magick is not something that exists outside of us. There is no division between our bodies, our souls, The Source. We tend to think in a linear fashion. We like to separate and categorize things and put them into nice neat little drawers and keep them nice and tidy because it makes it easier to discuss and analyze them and even to understand them sometimes. But we are not made up of the sort of energy that is easy to categorize, nor are we able to keep it nice and tidy in a drawer somewhere. You can put a lit candle into a drawer but I guarantee you won't be keeping it there for long! ;)

Remember, when doing magick that there are tradeoffs. Call it cause and effect, Karma, the Law of Return. It really does not matter what name you put on it. Simply, it takes energy to create and direct energy. The stronger, the more negative or positive the energy created the stronger, more negative or positive will be the repercussion of that energy, once it is released. You cannot open a floodgate and expect that the waters will hold back by themselves.

This brings us to the question: What is the difference between the energy of a forest fire (as in the example I gave earlier) and the energy of a fireplace? Very simply, one is contained. They burn fuel; give off heat etc. in a similar fashion. One is channeled, directed and controlled and one is not. One is Chaos. The other is Order. So, in essence, Chaos is the creative principle behind magick whether it is directed or not is up to the person who is experiencing it. It may be left undirected like a forest fire but it can also be controlled and used for a purpose. So, when you "generate" energy it can be unformed or undirected or it can be focused and purposeful.

It is important to remember that magick is never really lost or consumed either; it merely gets transferred from one source to another. If you know The Law of Thermodynamics you know that energy can be neither created nor lost. Like the log that is consumed by the fire to create heat. The log does not seem to be there any more but the energy that was generated is. When you ritually raise energy and direct it toward a goal you put a form to that energy and create an "ordered energy" rather than having Chaos rule the energy. This happens in life. If you use magick you are the one who directs your life energies and not Chaos or the Fates.

We must realize that like anything else it takes time to learn how to use and control the energy within. We are actually born with the ability, but at such time it is raw, and our skill to control it is both untested and unrefined. By using learned skills, such as meditation, visualization and concentration one can control these energies in such a way as to cause change. Have you ever seen how a newborn colt lurches and stumbles about trying to get up? He has the power; it just is not under control. He flails, pitches forward and stumbles backward wildly. Finally he thinks about what he wants to accomplish, gathers the energy, concentrates and focuses that energy, and stands. He may be shaky at first but he is under control now. Much like that newborn colt, which wobbles and falls several times before finally getting control of those gangly limbs, we can learn that if we merely take the time to control the energy filled beings we are, we can accomplish our goal and stand in triumph.

We are trained from an early age to think in linear terms, but nature and the chaos within it are non-linear, and therefore require non-linear thinking to be understood and also to be used successfully. In order to use magick we have to first realize that all methods and information are valid. The only requirement is that it works. Many of the principles of magic must be self-discovered. What works for one person may backfire completely for someone else.

Everything is also capable of giving and receiving these energies that we have discussed thus far. For instance it is known by many that a four-leaf clover has the "power" to bring luck to one's life or situation. This is caused directly by the vibrations created by the object. We can also create or channel the vibration or power in a much more efficient way than just using a four-leaf clover in our pocket. We can also draw or funnel power from the Earth, the Sun, the Stars, the Moon, the elements (earth, air, fire, and water) and even from rocks, plants, or other people (with their permission of course). This is why in spell work you will see that people will use certain times of the month, a certain color, day of the week, stone or herb. The vibrational levels of these items strengthen the results of the task being performed.

It should be known that the energies that are in all things can be contacted and manipulated by will alone, once the person performing and directing knows what it is they are doing. Having the item that contains the particular energy you require is not always necessary. Herbs and stones themselves give energy, which can be called upon from afar if necessary. It is often easier to focus the energy of an item if it is visually available and if it is near-by so that we do not have to expend further energy calling those energies to us. It is not a necessity, however. This is often the case in situations where the fae or fairy folk are called to help you accomplish something. You are not really calling tiny people to help. You are calling on the essence, energy and life force of something else-a plant for instance.

The art of the magician is that of using the mind to contact the required type of energy, focus it, and then direct it in accordance with our will. This type of focus and direction has been also recorded with the use of Kirilian photography. A properly executed magical release of energy creates a kind of wave that is actually visible by Kirilian photography. This wave can be seen around the magician with this equipment. It is a measurement of turbulence in the space around him or her in a way. This turbulence will always cause a result. If it is done correctly and with enough focus it will come to fruition as the magician has intended. Once the energy is released, control over the phenomena is out of the magician's hands. Remember that magick will always take the path of least resistance. It will work when you channel the energy-always. It just may not work the way you wanted it to. It has a life of its own.

To do Magick you need a few personal "tools". You need to learn to control your thoughts. Meditation is one of the most important tools in learning this control. With meditation you can quiet your mind from all thoughts. Once you have mastered meditation you then can also master visualization. When you visualize properly you will find you are able to not only be in a different place, if that is your wish, but to us all five senses in your surroundings with astonishing clarity. During your studies of these two very valuable tools you will want to study and learn to understand what ethics you feel are necessary to live and love by in order to be able to focus your will. For how can one focus their will if they are unsure of what that will truly is? Once you can do these things you have the basic tools of performing magick.

Ethics are a huge consideration when practicing magick. Magick can be used for good or bad. This is undeniably true. But what makes magick good or bad is the intent of the practitioner and not the magick itself. Once the magickal work is completed, the power that the practitioner released becomes neutralized again. All magick is neutral to start until it is charged by the practitioner. It is not simply bad to use magick unless you choose to do that which is harmful and destructive for no purpose.

I am often asked why I categorize in this way. I am asked often, "How can destructive magick be good?" To be destructive for a purpose happens even in magic that one might consider "white" or "good" magick. If I am healing another individual this is destruction with a purpose. I am destroying disease. I am sure the disease, as a living thing, is not too happy about it. This is still destruction no matter how you look at it but at the same time is considered "good". In the same way if I use magick to get a job that may have gone to another it is destructive in some way to the individual that did not use magick for their benefit.

Unless the practitioner uses what I like to call a pussy clause. If the spell used were worded in a way such as, "The best qualified person should get the job" the mage has negated the destruction on one level. The mage has also possibly negated the reason for doing the spell to begin with! This is the same as saying "Harm None" after doing a spell for healing. You have again negated what you wanted to do because the disease, bacteria, etc. can be under that "Harm None" umbrella.

Once you have learned to control your thought process and have your ethical "ducks in a row" you will now need a way to gather, hold and release the energy you wish to use for your intent. Once sufficient power is gathered it may be charged with a purpose in one of several ways. You may visualize your purpose being fulfilled for instance and then send the power out from where you have gathered it in order that it might accomplish it's goal. Once again it is important to remember that magick will always follow the path of least resistance. You may ask for money and a favorite aunt dies leaving you quite a little sum. Although you did not want her to have to die in order to get some quick cash this was the path of least resistance. You got what you asked for, but not necessarily what you wanted.

Once you have gathered, and empowered then released the energy for your intent you will feel euphoric many times. Anyone who has participated in a successful ritual has experienced some degree of the "high" that this state induces. This makes it important to ground any excess energy that may be left and to center one's self afterward. This, in my opinion, should be done both with a simple grounding and centering exercise and by partaking of something nutritious for the body. This is where the cakes and ale ceremony play an important role in ritual.

Anyone can practice magick. It is a gift that every one of us was given if we chose to use it. Remember, again, that there are tradeoffs to every action. No matter if you choose to call it cause and effect, Karma, the Law of Return. Always remember that it takes energy to create and direct energy. The stronger, the more negative or positive the energy created the stronger, more negative or positive will be the repercussion of that energy, once it is released. Although once the work you have done has come to fruition the energy will revert to its own neutral state you will find you attract other energies that are similar to those you have sent from yourself.

Magick. It is your life force, it is your your soul, it is The Source. You are magick. If you remember that one simple fact you will find that magick is simply like opening a gift, taking it from its wrappings and using it in your own way.

Dawn Thebarge

Magick

What Is It And Why

Does It Work?