PRACTICAL MAGIC ONE:
WHAT IS MAGIC AND WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Magic is an ancient art, cloaked in mystery. Magic is cutting yourself a powerful wand at midnight from a weeping willow tree, wearing a black satin cloak, the smell of frankincense from a silver thurible. Magic is summoning the spirits of the wind to do your bidding; magic is the iridescent waft of strange perfume when a stopper is removed from a cut glass bottle. Magic is runes, tarot cards, incantations, glamour, power and seduction...
Did you agree with any of that? Is it true?
Well, yes and no!
Cultural influences run deep, and our imaginations are very powerful. So, in a way, magic, depending on who you are, may mean any or all of these things and more, and actually I like that, it adds to the excitement and romance of it all- but they are just the start, just the cultural veneer covering the reality of magic.
Magic in the past, and even now, is often dressed up, and this is a lot of fun- but in reality, magic is stunningly simple. You don't need any props at all to channel it, just yourself and a quiet space.
Because-
Magical power is the ability to harness the mind to manifest (bring into being) what you need and want in life.
And-
Magical power is all around us, in every atom in the universe. There is no lack of magical power because it is everywhere, and you can harness it to influence the alignment of physical events and objects.
Let's find out how you too can harness this incredible power, by taking a look at the basic tenets of magic.
FUNDAMENTALS:
The fundamental tenet of real magic is that as magicians we must begin to see the world differently from others. There is no black and white, up and down, matter and nothingness; no absolutes- only a canvas daubed with possibility and potential.
Everything in the physical world is made up of energy. Energy which has neither concrete form nor mass, which operates in ways we do not yet understand, but which a magician will tell you is able to be influenced by the power of the subconscious mind.
Your subconscious mind is your tool for achieving anything you want in your life. It is your magic wand, your cauldron, and your Athame all rolled into one. To become a true witch or wizard you must learn how to harness this mighty force within you.
The power of your own sub conscious mind may not have quite the glamour of, say, invoking the spirits of the Ancestors or some long forgotten power accessible by a secret ritual- but it’s not all about meditation, chanting, and soy beans- it’s a living and vastly underestimated power, which, quite literally, creates your reality. Best of all, it’s assessable to all. Even if you’re a prize dunce in every other area of your life, with a little practise you will be able to do magic and do it well.
One of the greatest and best remembered magicians of all time was a Magus in the Ancient World called Hermes Trismegistus. Many years after his death his tomb was discovered and opened, and the following text was enscribed on the wall, as his enduring legacy to the world. These were presumably the very words he considered to be the most important to him, and the most useful message for others to take away. These words were:
“As within, so without.
As above, so below.”
In other words, your waking reality is the reflection of your internal landscape, or your subconscious mind- a concept which is echoed throughout history by other famous magicians and sages- Jesus, the Buddha, Zoroaster and so on.
To quote just one, Jesus in the Gospel of Mark said:
“Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into to the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith..”
This reiterates of course that it is your thoughts, or in this case, more specifically your belief that is responsible for miracles, or in other words, magic.
So the secret to real magical power is found inside your subconscious mind. Your current reality and circumstances, everything in your life right now in fact, has been forged by your previous thoughts and beliefs.
This is rather a disconcerting truth, and explains why many people find themselves stuck in a downward spiral of negativity and underachievement. The less they achieve, the more embittered they become, and the worse it gets…
Hopefully you are not one of these people! However, it behoves any witch or wizard to examine themselves objectively and carry out any spiritual housekeeping which may be required, as and when, to insure that their subconscious mind is in tip top condition, and a fertile sowing ground for powerful spells.
To this end-
Take control. Accept that if you are currently a failure in life, it is most probably your own fault. Blaming others achieves nothing and will only hold you back.
Understand that whatever you habitually think about becomes your reality, and therefore to become a true magician and the highest version of yourself you will need to change your thinking patterns. A little, or a lot, depending on your current level of development.
Understand that words are powerful- they are the children of thoughts. Repeated mantras or phrases by yourself or others will serve to consolidate your inner thoughts and become your reality. So never, ever say “ I can’t do this,” or “I’m a failure”- or you won’t, and you will be.
Harness the power of Autosuggestion- it is the super strength oven cleaner of spiritual housekeeping! Keep your thoughts positive, pure, and honourable. There is no denying that there is misery out there in the world, and plenty of miserypigs wallowing in their puddles, (particularly in the media!) but if you focus on the positive you will attract it. Autosuggestion means replacing old and destructive thoughts or habits with new, positive ones.
You’re a magician now! Tell yourself that you are a success in all areas of your life. Autosuggest. Autosuggest. Autosuggest. One day you will believe it, and then it will be true. Be a vigilante with negative thoughts- take out your mental Katana and kill them immediately and with no mercy.
Stop right now. Look around you and be thankful for the good things in your life, even if those good things are as simple as something to eat and a warm bed to sleep in. Affirm to yourself, out loud;
“Every day, in every way, my life is becoming closer to perfection!”
You can change the wording to better reflect your own particular magical needs of course- the most important thing is that you autosuggest and reprogramme yourself every single day, until positivity becomes a habit and your magical potential reaches optimum levels.
You may find it helpful to understand that there is no lack in the world and that any sense of lack exists merely in your own mind- and therefore your current circumstances.
The universe is full of good things and wonderful opportunities. If all of the money in the world was gathered up and redistributed equally each and every one of us would be wealthy.
If there is lack in your life then it is the fault of the mental housekeeping, sometimes cultural and historical, of yourself and the society around you. As a Magician you must rise above this. Cultivate a healthy sense of entitlement to the wonderful bounty available- reach out and accept it in your mind right now and you are already half way there.
Many people live hand to mouth existences and demonstrate huge reserves of patience, strength, and love; but never let yourself be kept down or duped into believing that poverty is, in and of itself, a virtue.
We have talked about the basics of magic - what it is, where it comes from, and how it operates. Hopefully you now understand that magical power has its origins in your subconscious mind and that your thoughts have a very important role in manifesting your reality. This is the single most important rule of magic.
Now it is time to learn how to craft spells. Powerful ones that work!