Magick and Spells

Before I discuss magick, spells, and divination, I want to point something out: notice how much room Solitary-Pagan.net gives this topic in relationship to all the other topics.  My point is this: Pagans are well-rounded people whose lifestyle involves many things, including magick, spells, and divination.  Unfortunately, the media, including major book sellers, would give the casual observer the impression that Pagan's do nothing but cast spells, read tarot cards, and give astrological readings.  Certainly there are likely to be Pagans who fit that image, just as there are Pagans who have nothing to do with magick, spells, or divination.  Most of us use these tools and others to provide insight and raise energy, but that is only one aspect of a full Pagan lifestyle.

What is Magick?

This is another one of those varied areas where you are better off researching a particular type of magick than simply searching for "magic" and "magick."  About the spelling difference, people who include magick as a part of their religion often add the "k" to separate their magick from the Houdini type magic one might see for entertainment.

Here are some places to being your search:

Yahoo! Religion & Spirituality, Magick, highlighting Animal, Candale, Chaos, Color, Elemental, Enochian, Flower, Geotic, Grimoire, Herb, Knot and Cord, Metal, Poppet, Sex, Stone, Thelema, Tree, and Wicca and Witchcraft Magick. (Yahoo has a different location for Magic -- in Entertainment)

Esoteric and Occult Magick at dmoz, which features Chaos, Enochian, Folk, Hoodoo, Necromancy, Renaissance, and Wiccan Magick

What are Spells?

Here is yet another area where views are varied and unique.  Some Pagans interchange the words "magick" and "spells" while others view magick as an unbrella term for various activities including spellcasting.  Others view spells almost more like prayers and more specific to intimate, personal concerns while magick is more less personal.  One way to think about this is to say magick provides structure, method, and tools that a Pagan can use to send out a spell (in the way a Christian would send out a prayer).  Wikipedia has an informative article on Spells and Pagan religion that will offer you even more to think about.

For the level of our simple presentation here we can think of magick and spells as interchangeable.  Just know that if/when you choose to develop this part of your practice you may find that these terms begin to distinguish themselves.

Why Work With Magick?

The practice of magick is perhaps the most misunderstood area of Paganism – by both those who want to be Pagans just to be able to cast spells, and by those who fear Paganism because of this mysterious ability to control and harm.  Christopher Penczak, in his book The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, states, "I have found that students who have not experienced energy and psychic abilities, the foundation stones of magick, have a less profound experience with ritual.  They do not understand the subtle mechanics and opportunities interwoven with it" (page 4).

Magick is often defined as the conscious desire to bring about change in the universe by manipulating energy, usually through a ritual of some sort.  Many pagans believe that all human beings have the capacity to direct their will and their life energy in a way that accomplishes a goal.  This capacity is similar, if not the same, as the energy put forth by Christians in prayer or that put forth by a Reiki practitioner in healing.

Just as with all talents, some folks may develop their magickal skills to a higher level than others.  The well-trained long-distance runner can certainly run better than I can, but I am able to run. All human beings have the ability and capacity for magick.  However, just as athletes must train, so do Pagans who intend to develop their mental abilities.  And, just as the athlete must train consistently for years, so must the individual who chooses to develop these mental skills.  If you are among the few with a special talent for magick then your training may be faster. 

If you are a Pagan who does not do magick, or if your tradition doesn't include magick, you may choose to skip this section. Before you do, though, I would like give you a couple of reasons why you might want to work through these exercises anyway. Because many Pagans do work magick it is a topic that often comes up at gatherings and festivals. You will be better able to converse intelligently with those Pagans who do incorporate magick and divination if you are familiar with it. Also, you just might be pleasantly surprised by what you find, and decide to explore magick and divination a little further.

Steps in Successful Magick

Using the Research Tools you will find lots of recipes for magick or spells of varying quality.  I want to strongly encourage you to think through any ritual magic you might engage in.  Edain McCoy has listed several steps to work through when employing magic or spellcraft. (pages 5-9, Making Magick)

• How strong is your desire or need?
• How strong is your emotional involvement?
• Do you have enough knowledge of magic and of the particular issue?
• Do you have realistic expectations?
• Do you have confidence that natural energy can be channeled to affect an outcome?
• Do you have the ability to keep silent about your magic?  (folk wisdom says silence is required)
• Are you willing to do all you can in the physical world to support your magical endeavors?

One of my favorite authors, Vivianne Crowley, has recently published The Magical Life which gives her view of magickal endeavors.  I highly recommend it as an introduction to the seriousness and playfulness of magick.

Natural Magick

Scott Cunningham defines magick as "the practice of moving natural (though little-understood) energies to effect needed change."  He also includes a key point: Wicca and magick are not interchangeable. Wicca is a belief system that embraces magick because it is natural tool available to be used.  Cunningham writes, "If you wish to practice magick, all thoughts of it being paranormal or supernatural must be forgotten" (page 6, Wicca).  Helen Berger observed in her sociological study of witches in the United States that, "Magic is seen, at least in part, as a process of awakening one's own psychological mechanisms" (page 32, A Community of Witches).

The magickal teachings incorporated in Paganism, and Witchcraft in particular, come from many different sources.  Berger notes "Witches in the United States take their magical teachings from a wide variety of sources -- the recorded techniques of Egyptian or Renaissance ceremonial magicians, the teachings of shamans from many different cultures, meditation, and other spiritual procedures from Eastern mysticism" (page 24, A Community of Witches). 

Ethical Considerations

I want to remind you of our ethical codes as you ponder how you might use this talent.  In order to use magick well we need to train, much like an athlete.  Magick is a tool that can be used for pleasure, for productive or for destructive purposes.  

As you prepare to work with magick you may want to review the Pagan Ethics & Philosophy and What Paganism  is Not.  Patricia Telesco, in The Wiccan Book of Ceremonies and Rituals, gives the following pieces of wisdom (paraphrased from pages 29-30).

1. Never work magic that can potentially harm anyone, including yourself.

2. Never seek to manipulate others with magic.

3. Recognize your limits, especially when you are angry, tense, ill, or tired.

4. Never work magic (or any ritual) that you don't understand.

5. Be true to yourself. Never let anyone pressure into something you are uncomfortable with.

6. Recognize your innate potential. Personal dedication and involvement are more important than complicated and theatrical performances.

7. Let your magic grow and evolve along with your personal development. 

Magick and Parapsychology

There are some interesting scientific and academic studies of magic and parapsychology taking place today.  You might want to explore the American Association for Parapsychology, the Rhine Research Center which is the successor to the Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory, the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research Center, and check out a directory site with links to many other paranormal sites, such as Parapsychology Sources on the Internet.