What is Magic or Magick?
A very interesting question that. In science fiction and fantasy writing there is a saying, which goes something like this; any significantly advanced technology will appear to be magic to a less advanced culture with limited technology. Meaning if the culture has not invented complex machines they can’t comprehend the difference between the machine and magic.
At our level of technology if we met say the Asgard from SG1 (sci-fi girl here incase you didn’t notice) we could understand that their technology is technology. Even if we couldn’t understand how it works we could understand that it works on set rules governed by the laws of physics. However if we’d met them 2 millennia ago before we’d started to understand advanced physics and technology, we’d think it was magic.
Which leads me to believe; that there is far more to the Universe than we can possibly comprehend at this stage of our development. When I first started feeling pulled down this Path, I was in a quandary; I accepted what science has to say about the Universe but I also knew there was more to the Universe than science could explain. I voiced this paradox on a board I’d recently joined and I got an interesting answer. We are part of the Universe observing it from the inside, therefore our observation can’t be truly unaffected by the Universe’s influence. Giving words to the feeling I couldn’t quite understand. (That post was unfortunately deleted in hack a while back, because it was some much more than my short explanation.)
So what is magic or Magick?
That depends on who you ask, but I’ll attempt to give an answer on my opinion.
To me Magick is communication with the Divine or the Universe or God and Goddess, however you want to define the concept.
It’s not like you see on TV, with things blowing up and flying about. It’s much more personal, and not so dramatic. Magic is subtle, the results are generally personal. Some do say they can do more dazzling and showy things, but I have not seen it, so I do not know.
How is Magick done?
Again depends on who you ask, for me I perform personal rituals at home, sometimes I meditate at work (that is mostly just help me through a stressful job though). My typical rituals involve candles, incense, food or whatever I deem appropriate. Many Witches have very specific rules for rituals, I’m pretty freeform. I have small table I use for an alter and some string I use to define my circle. For me the circle is a place where I have cleared away negative energies and asked for Divine Blessing of the space; mobile Holy Ground!
A ritual helps me; to align my thoughts and focus, to clear away negative energy, to move myself into a more positive state of mind or to communicate with the Divine or all of these. Is that so different to light my own candle and sing my own song in my own house as it is to go to a building and have someone else light the candle and pick the song? Yes and no, the intent is the same, but the communication is more intimate and personal. I have never felt a Divine presence in such a setting, though I know some who have. I don’t want to offend but I fail see how a third party facilitates communication with the Divine, yet for many it must work. (Again, it is a matter of personal experience.)
Although often for me everyday things can be the most spiritual; baking bread, making jewelry, refinishing furniture and sometimes cleaning the house. I don’t do anything extra while I’m doing these things but I often feel refreshed and at peace after these things.
I guess Magick is what we make it. Like all Spiritual endeavors it can be either positive or negative, it is what we choose to do with the experience. Intent is key to outcome, but that is another post for another day.
