What is the art of magic?

Answer 1

Everything is energy. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change form. Magic is a form of natural science that works with energies, understanding and changing them. “All matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration and that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. There’s no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and you are the imagination of yourself” Bill Hicks All matter is made from protons, neutrons and electrons - which in turn are made up of quarks - or vibration waves. We use magic to send out a vibrational signal to the universe to attract or repel energy depending on our desires. Of course we do this on a daily basis every single day through various means. Verbal - “Can you get me a cup of coffee honey” Written - well you’re reading this aren’t you. Non-verbal - Everyone remembers the ’stare of doom’ from an angry parent, dressing to impress, fragrancing the home to make it inviting etc. All of these methods are designed to elicit a response. When we cast a spell we are either sending a message e.g. healing, banishing - or we are looking to receive a desired response e.g. inspiration, love/friendship, prosperity etc. In both cases, a magic spell is designed to create a vibration that will result in the required effect. By using tools with a similar or complementary vibration we can produce a specific signal. An everyday example: If we went for a job interview we would wear smart clothes, choose a pleasant aftershave/perfume, apply neutral make-up and adopt a professional demeanour. In magic the most common tools that are utilised are herbs, crystals, rituals, the petitioning of deities, incense, oils and colours to name but a few. So how do we know these work? through thousands of years of experimentation, story telling and record keeping, this information has been passed from generation to generation. The simple truth is that if these tools did not work, then their use would not be remembered. Often referred to as correspondences, this information is now readily available in books and on the internet. Once the appropriate tools have been selected, they need to be used in a way that harnesses the personal power of the spell caster - the intent. (It’s no good making those preparations for the job interview if you don’t want the job!) Once the form of the spell has been decided and performed, it is then time to see what results your signal will bring you. There is generally no set time as to how long it will take for a spell to work - the signal may take a while to travel to it’s destination, or in some cases it may not be interpreted properly. For this reason it is important to keep records of your magical workings, you will find these notes to be useful for future reference and/or help you refine your techniques. (My husband makes bread without a written recipe and every loaf is different as he never writes the quantities down when he experiments) It is also important to remember the Law of Attraction i.e. like attracts like - any energy that you send out will eventually return to you, so think carefully before sending any destructive signals. T S Elliot put it perfectly when he said “Do I dare disturb the universe?” - before undertaking any magical act, ask yourself this question and if you are unsure then go back to the books, discuss the options with friends or forum members. Pay attention to your personal energy and intuition, when the time is right - send your message, and let the universe respond.

Answer 2

Illusion

A Pagan Answer

Magic is the manipulation of naturally occurring powers by the hand and will of an ethical practitioner.