Witchvox Article

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Posted: August 23rd. 2003
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Can Magick be a practical tool in life? Can it be a tool for personal transformation or in helping others? I think the first place to start would be with a definition of Magick. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition says that Magick can be seen as an action or effort undertaken because of a personal need to effect change, especially as associated with Wicca or Wiccan beliefs. From this definition we have to look deeper into the use of Magick. In Wicca we use Magick for a multitude of reasons. The uses of Magick I find most important pertain to healing, transforming others, transforming myself and as a means to affect change in the world around me.

For years I have lived with HIV/AIDS. Many of my doctors have marveled at how well I have been able to do without the use of so many drugs to keep my immune system as well as it has run. When I thought about this I returned to some of the things I was taught by my wonderful South Baptist grandmother, who used what she called mountain medicine all the time when we were ill. I remember growing up using herbs and what I learned once I was older, a type of meditation to assist my body with healing. As I grew into an adult, realizing the disease I had, I began to explore using the Arts I had learned from Wicca in a similar way as my grandmother had used her herbs and "relaxation" state to help my body heal. For years I kept a journal of my workings for healing illnesses that would appear to see if there were any major differences with the use of the Magick on my health. To my doctors' and my surprise I have remained very healthy even without all the major HIV drugs. I have now been living with the disease for over 13 years and still going strong, even with the run of the mill illness every now and then! Many would call this Faith Healing. Faith Healers can be found throughout just about every religion in the world. They use the connection with the Divine to heal themselves and others. The practice seems to be something that is gaining more and more acceptance as time passes. People are beginning to see some connection to how this type of healing can aid in the processes of the human or even animal body.

Transforming our lives is something that we as Americans pay millions of dollars yearly trying to do. From the age of 12 I suffered from Bi-Polar Disorder. Bi-Polar manifests itself in different ways from person to person. Some of the traits for Bi-Polar include major mood swings from deep depression to extreme highs of a manic state. It is believed to be due to chemical imbalances within the brain. The disorder was something that was passed to me through genetics from my mother. I spent a great deal of time hiding in my room from people, from my life itself. I was unable to attend school on a regular basis or even hold a steady job unless it secluded me from people. I would have thoughts that haunted me, thoughts that everyone hated me, even wanted me dead. Using Magick, along with some mild psychotropic medications to help bring the chemicals in my brain into balance, I was able to gain control of my Bi-Polar Disorder and began the journey of turning my life from one of depression and mental torment. I was able to calm the rage that flowed through me so that I could become a productive member of society.

Friends have seen the change I have been able to effect upon myself making them wonder if this could be done for them as well. I have taught a few friends and family members what I did to transform myself into the person I am today. Those of them that have tried it have been rather successful in making some changes. I have walked some through the spells and meditations myself. It feels nice to watch someone change using a method and spiritual path that is a part of you. If you can change only your worldview of things using Magick you have already made the biggest change that anyone could hope for. Sometimes in life that's all it takes, a simple change in one's view will make everything in their life seem better. Funny though, this appears yet another area that other faiths use the same techniques as we in the Craft do, they just give it different names. There are many "spiritual" counselors out there within churches and other groups that counsel their members using prayers and/or meditations to help them find peace of mind.

Magick cannot only be used for personal transformation, but Magick allows one to bring change to the environment around them. Sometimes in life we find ourselves in an environment or some situation that is not quite what we want. There have been times I have had work environments that have not been the best in the world. Whether it was a person or just the work place itself I have used Magick to make the environment a little more pleasant to be in. A prime example is my current job. I have never really believed in ghosts or hauntings. A lot of my friends think that's a little close-minded for a Wiccan but I just never had, until I started working here at the Brumby Lofts. I had heard a lot of stories from the residents but I just brushed them off as overactive imaginations or group hysteria caused by the setting of a very old building. I've been here for a year now and about two months ago my mind was changed. Our office has two of the old Brumby Rocking Chairs sitting in the middle of the space. I was sitting on the computer reading articles from here on the Vox when one of the chairs just started rocking. I was rather shocked at first then figured it was just the A.C. blowing on it. There was just one major problem with that: The A.C. does not blow hard enough to rock a large wooden chair. I sat there and watched it rock for about 10 minutes.

This happened every day for about a week. I was trying everything I knew from a science point of view to figure it out. But nothing was coming of it. Then things got a little stranger: Items started disappearing from my desk. Things like all my business cards, the mouse on my computer, things like that. I decided something was not right. I thought maybe there was something to the "hauntings" here. I brought my tools up to the office one evening so that I could do a peace spell. To my great mirth, all the strange events, other than the rocker sometimes rocking, stopped happening. I know that some may not agree that this is a good argument for the use of Magick as a practical tool but I used it to bring change to my environment. It does not have to be a haunting that one needs to change, simply the attitude of someone towards them, or even just the "air" of an environment that one is in. People are now doing such things with Feng Shui. This is a form of Chinese "Magick" that places objects so that the flow of the environment is harmonious.

So to answer the question that was asked of us: Yes of course using Magick as a tool can be practical. It can be practical in so many different ways in our lives that most us of probably don't even realize it. And if anyone needs more proof, then look into other faiths - see how they use Magick in the everyday dealings of life. Then ask yourself again: Can Magick be a practical tool for transformation in any part of our lives? Well of course it can, or why do it!

David Crawford

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Location: , Georgia

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Bio: David, 29 years old, lives in Atlanta, GA with his handfasted partner, Chad, of 3 years. He has been a practicing Wiccan for over 13 years. Currently he endeavors to write a book about his travels along the Wiccan Path as a gay man and how that has changed his view on the faith. Also he and his circle are working on forming an on-line resource community and shop for all those on-line that are looking for something a little different. David also works closely with a local center that promotes "alternative" support and healing for those living with AIDS/HIV.

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