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.
What’s with the name Songwind?
I just like the name, Songwind. Something about it speaks to me, to something I strive for. Again can’t say exactly why.
The name “Songwind” itself was taken from the form of the Hawkbrother names in the Valdemar books by Mercedes Lackey. It was the name of my scribe/mage in the MMORPG Ultima Online (Chessie Shard -though I have not played in years, those early years were great fun).
As a writer my various characters took on distinct personalities and backgrounds. Three of my characters were sisters separated for many years. Songwind, or Elissa, was the studious sister who seemed to be untouched by the chaos and grief around her, raised by elves (or elf like creatures) she never quite understood people’s reactions to each other. Unlike her older sister, whose scars were red and angry across her back, Songwind bore no outward scars for the world to understand her pain. Yet, she goes on, never considering giving up, confident in a future where she finds some peace and understanding. In all honesty, I’ve never been able to finish her story so I don’t know if she ever finds what she seeks.
In essence I think Songwind represents the part of me that appears unscathed by my history but in truth is deeply scared by it. Just because I never fell into the traps some abuse survivors have doesn’t mean I’m not mired by my scars. I suppose I am the cliché aspiring writer, trying to write away my pain, as transferring it my characters somehow exorcises the demons.
Somewhere along the way, I began to understand that my path to peace lies far off the beaten path.
The Beginning…
I’ve wanted to make this BLOG for a long time, and I’ve a few false starts. Hopefully, I’m ready to start and keep going this time.
Why?
Why not? I like to write and often by writing I learn. Learning is something I enjoy. Sharing ideas is also something I enjoy. Maybe, someone else will happen along and learn something along with me.
I’d like to believe I have something to contribute to the spiritual world. Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. Here are my thoughts you decide.
My personal journey has been hard and painful; I have found the person I thought would love me no matter what, would not love me no matter what. Perhaps sometime I will go into that, but now is not the time.
Where to begin?
Some would say the beginning but even that can be subjective. Did my story begin when I was born? Or before, in another life? Did it begin when I first looked in a mirror and understood I was looking back? Or maybe it began when I began to question what I was told?
Hard to say, but whenever my journey began I am here now on a path with no map. My path crosses and runs parallel to the paths of others, so I am not without guidance, but to be true to the path I most make the decisions for myself. It is my journey and my path and I must follow it in my own way.
There are some in my life who feel my journey is nonsense. There have been times when I wished I could go back and change my path it is not easy to go it alone. I cannot unlearn what I have learned or un-see the things I have seen. Nor I do not truly want too, because for all my sorrows over the last few years, I am more at peace spiritually than I have ever been. It wouldn’t make a difference anyway, because in denying my spiritual identity I would always be incomplete.
What is my path called? Well, as I am the only one on it, it doesn’t really have a name. I’m quite fond of the term Kitchen Witch, though exactly why I can’t say.
