Witchvox Article

Author: Moonspider [a WitchVox Sponsor]
Posted: August 22nd. 1999
Times Viewed: 7,002

As the saying goes, the more you know the less you know you know. Over the years this lesson keeps repeating itself. How does magick work? It has had many explanations over time, let's explore a few of them, shall we?

Magic, we are told, is the use of various techniques, as spells, charms, etc., that presumably assure human control of supernatural powers(1). Pretty cool stuff, that. Power is the ability to do or act.

I like one colleague's definition. She explains magic on its most basic level, and in conjunction with the Threefold Law, which is why I like to refer people to it. "The Work is stated and performed in the World of Form, it goes out into the Invisible world, and comes back to manifest in the World of Form."(2)

Let's take this a step further. Looking at the dictionary definition gives us a jumping point further into the topic. Our tools, be they herbs, numbers, planetary alignment and other correspondence aids in our focus of the phenomenon we call magick.

Breathing is magic. When we examine all its intricacies that make us live-wow. What an amazing machine we are. But magick also encompasses gathering herbs, choosing stones, coloring ink and burning candles.

All we do is focus, focus our energies, our thoughts, our intentions. Our intentions bring desire, that desire brings more power. This continues the process that aids our magick.

Does this bring about special intercession from the Gods? We hope so. They ultimately grant our wish no matter what we want. They know what's best for us and what we need.

Though we should remember at this point that old saying, be careful what you wish for, for you may surely get it. For many I even advise against magick. If you are not willing to pay the price of what you want, don't go there. All magick requires responsibility on the part of the magickian, and should not be entered into lightly.

If things in your spell don't seem to be working, maybe they aren't supposed to. Or, you may need to let the universe have the time it needs to make things happen. You may need to learn patience, but I digress.

As long as we Witches have done magick, its not often easily explained. I think there are as yet natural laws that have not yet been scientifically explained. But, since we are dealing with part of a religion, a little faith needs to be employed.

This whole process deals with change. Change is the only constant. Internally we change, that change must take place in order for things to happen.

We Witches know there is nothing like the feeling of taking a stone and holding it and listening to it. We know we can pick up a stick and transform it into a wand. We commune with these items. This is unique unto our species and we intrinsically know this. This separates us from others.

We know the magick of the cycles of life. We embrace those turns and honor them. We understand the natural qualities that go into these events.

Magick can also be thought of as a form of active prayer. This specific activity we sometimes refer to as spellwork. Why is this important-because it is empowering. As Witches, we empower ourselves. We do not operate out of fear. We are never without choices or help. We are not powerless.

No matter where we are, we can always create within our mind's eye the perfect ritual. From drawing the circle, invoking quarters, lighting candles, etc. From this, we draw power and concentration. We know, by our training, that each action, saying, color, stone, herb draws us to focus on our intent.

All this can take place physically, in any space, field, dining room, or hospital. Whether your tools are physically present, or not, you can merely shut your eyes and visualize your perfect ritual.

Remember, too, that it is you, not some thing or body, out there, that does this, it is you. That is true magick. You are the magick. The Witch is the magick. She changes everything she touches, And everything she touches changes.

1Stein, Jess, ed., The Random House Dictionary (New York: Ballantine Books, 1980), p. 527.2Weinstein, Marion, Earth Magic: A Dianic Book of Shadows 4th ed. (New York: Earth Magic Productions, 1998), p. 7.
Mark MoonSpider Sosnowski

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Moonspider

Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut

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Bio: Mark MoonSpider Sosnowski, has been on this path most of his life. Life has dealt him many twists and turns, and usually says he came into the Craft through the back door. He loves books and reading and makes his living as a librarian. Numerology is his main form of divination having worked it for over 15 years. But, his Gemini mind, never at rest, has studied astrology, crystals, runes, I ching and whatever else strikes his fancy.

His previous ramblings have been published on The Witches' Voice:
http://www.witchvox.com/holidays/samhain/1031_the_cave.html
http://www.witchvox.com/basics/samhain/1031_the_cave.html

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