Witchvox Article

Author: Waltz
Posted: July 8th. 2007
Times Viewed: 2,461

Yes, the art. The Art. Magic. Magic has always ever been an art to those that seriously practice it. To many, it is known as the High Art (or the Highest Art), and to them there is no greater calling for a mortal than to wield and shape the universe itself, much like a deity, and often with their very power.

However, too many detractors of the Art, and even those who practice diligently, don't really know what magic is, lest their understanding of it describes it as ever a mystery or just something they know how to do.

I write this from the perspective of a budding sage and innate spellcaster. Many of you may have heard these terms from some table-top pen and paper game like D and D or Mage, but take a moment to think about what those terms actually mean, and you'll understand why I use them to describe myself.

Why do many of us call ourselves Witches, Wizards, Sorcerers, and the like? Mainly because we all fulfill the one requirement to take those titles: we practice, in some way, shape, or form, the Art. We bend and shape the universal energies that float around us to some useful end. Because of our ability to perform these little miracles, we become distinctly magical beings ourselves, manifesting abilities well beyond the ken of most other mortal beings.

We know of magic and its presence around us. It is the universal energies that we are all tapped in to, that we know float around us, are as real as the chair we are sitting on, as real as the food that we absorb into our bodies.

We merely focus our wills into a desired goal, speak the words, manipulate our components, and suddenly we've caused a storm where only minutes before there were sunny skies.

It is because we know, without a shadow of a doubt, that magic is around us, that we are constantly touching it, even when we are touching only air, that if we were to speak a few short words we can cause the heavens themselves to open up. At least we have that potential, even if we don't use it.

So why don't we?

No this is not to be a discussion on ethics. Personally, I find moral debate to be absolutely boring and to not have any place in my own magical practices. I am answerable and accountable to the universe just like everyone else, so I don't feel the need to try and sidestep that by making my magic �white� or any of that other nonsensical sensationalism that has taken so many of my magic-wielding brethren into its rapturous and oft-misguided new age arms.

The simple knowledge that I am held accountable for my actions is enough, but I am likewise held accountable for not using my gifts and talents, and exploring them to their fullest degree.

No, this is no discussion on ethics, but simply a call to arms (or wands, if you will) for those who call themselves Artists, but haven't picked up their brushes in a while. You do the universe a great disservice by not practicing, when you were clearly called to do so. You do yourself an even greater disservice by not exercising your will. After all, you were given perfectly good body parts that I'm sure you use as often as you can, which is more than likely everyday. Your magical will is no different. It should be put to work as often as possible, even with the most minor of tasks to be strong, or else it will atrophy, and you'll be wondering why you can no longer do what you used to.

I have had many discussions with other Artists about the current trend in the unwillingness of our magical brethren to do what they were Awakened to do, what they were put here on this earth to do, and the answer we keep coming back to, from what we've seen in the magical world, is fear. Too many Artists are afraid to practice because of what someone may think about their motives, or because of some misinterpreted sense of divine retribution.

My friends, might I remind you of why you practice the Art in the first place? It is because you seek to know the Mystery, or you want to gain power, or you want things to go your way every once in a while. Where did this fear come from?

Now note, some of you, that I didn't say you became a Witch, or Wiccan, or whatever you call yourself; I said why you practice the Art, because at one time or another you did.

There is a difference between practicing the art and taking up a title that says you practice the art. Learn it well.

Again, why the fear? Why are so many of my brethren calling themselves magical, but are unwilling to do anything magical? Is it just so that you can say you're �different?� In that case, stop saying that you're magical, and just say that you're different. You'll clear the air for the rest of us that actually practice, and you'll firmly slip away into the notorious ether of anonymity that keeps so many other people choking on their own desires in an attempt to live a �normal� life.

Many of us practice the Art primarily for one purpose: power. Power over ourselves especially, but also power in a universe that many see as being unduly cruel and unchanging, and power over others that seek to dominate us, or make us into who we wish not to be.

Unfortunately, too many of us get into this crippling mindset that says that in order for us to go on, we will step on toes, we will do unethical things, and we will just make general nuisances of ourselves to the universe, so we might as well just stop now or else risk becoming what the rest of the Christianized world thinks us as.

Well I've got news for you: just by breathing you're stepping on someone's toes, we're always doing unethical things in someone else's mind, and the universe already sees us as nuisances.

And as for the Christians, they make enough of their own demons to put all the burning hells to shame without trying to make some unsuspecting mage their newest victim. In other words, stop living in fear of what someone else is going to think of you. I say this because you will not impress them with your words or actions of contradiction to their fears because they already think negatively of you, and you'll only be confirming their fears of you. You do that anyway by being who you are, no point in adding unduly to that.

Besides, we don't live for them to like us; we live because we are called to do a work. If they don't like it, who are they? Simply other mortals who have no real clue of the power that even their god has and the unwillingness of their god to give that power unto them.

Who are really the chosen people?

Now I must say this next part, because it is very important to the overall message here of this writing. Fear will cripple you and destroy you, and it sullies your magic with negativity. All fear -- fear of karma, even fear of the God -- will do this to you. It will taint your connection to the divine and make you incapable of doing the simplest tasks. You may say you're unwilling, but we'll know for sure that you're terrified.

Don't be afraid. If you let your fear rule you, then you've lost all reason to live, and you've encountered a demon that is too powerful to be overcome.

How do you eliminate this fear to live your life and practice the Art? Destroy the source of this fear, this mindset that says that if you cast this spell, then you are evil and unethical.

In the grand scope of things, ethics plays a very small role in living your life. You're the only person whose spirituality comes with a disclaimer on ethics. Don't you think that's philosophically wrong? Besides, it'll take a lot more than one spell that enchants a person's mind to make you evil or wholly unethical.

Trust me.

ABOUT...

Waltz

Location: Columbus (Short North) , Ohio

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