What is magic?
Magic,to me, is making changes. Changes in attitude,to the way we think! Changes in philosophy, changes in beliefs. Changes in the immediate environment, changes in actual material things.
Changes are happening all the time, every day. Some by Nature, some by Mankind.
Just think of the great changes made throughout history by Mankind. The magic of changing wild grass into the cereals we have today. Yes,it was Agriculture. Nevertheless, it was magic! Any gardener will tell you that seeds will grow with soil,sunshine,and water. Truly magic!
Mixing Copper with Tin and making Bronze; magic! Turning powdered rock,sand, into glass; magic.
I am writing this on the internet. A sequence of on/off electronic switches changing into the written word. To me that is as much magic as changing flour,yeast, and water, into Bread!
Of course we would call it "Science"; but most of science IS magic! And, of course, there are things in magic that science still cannot explain. As yet, it cannot explain Dowsing. Neither can I; and I have used it for most of my life! It's magic!
But, magic means many things to many people. And so it is with witchcraft.
The word Witchcraft is only the European description of the Craft. It has many names, in many languages, all over the world. But it is the same Craft, and has been for many thousands of years. Witchcraft is really "searching". Searching for new and better healing methods.New drugs. Most of all, new Knowledge!
Witchcraft (and Alchemy) is forever asking the question, "What if?".
What if I did this, and then that; what would happen? What if I mixed this with that; what would happen?
And so it has gone on, since man first walked on two legs. What if?
Asking the questions, and sometimes, finding the answers. That is what I mean by witchcraft. Trying to answer questions. Even the metaphysical questions. Asking the only real questions worth asking. "Who are we?", "Where did we come from?", "Where are we going?" and "Why?". Those are the questions of witchcraft.
And, so far, not much by way of answers! But, we keep on
trying!
Well said. That's an excelent post Bryising. I rarely see people explain that in SoM
Even though I agree with you for the most part I would like to point what I believe in relation to your post .
I personally do not see most science as magic even though those two can be connected or related in some cases. As you previously mentioned magic is for providing questions, "what if" while science provides hypothises along with a yes or no answer according the results of an experiment.
On the other hand magic is an experiment and it's results are yet to be discovered. A practicioner enters a spiritual experiment and he will never seek for a yes or no answer. Because in magic there is never a yes or no answer. I like to consider magic as the most natural force in the universe.
Moreover I believe that magic is also the art of the anseen since the 80% if not more of the energy we recieve, send, touch and interact with is not visible (according to science).
So my opinion is that magic is a balanced munipulation of that energy. And as I have mentioned before it's not just a practice or a hobby it is a also a mentality, perception and lifestyle. And I can't say it's possible for anyone to master magic itself.
Thank you for that post it was quite inspirig.
I agree with you that as witches and magicians it is important to ask and try to answer questions ourselves rather than rely heavily on dogma. There is a misconception that if something is old and has stood the test of time that it is inherently useful. Beliefs can survive throughout history for a multitude of reasons, such as being perpetuated by the ruling class, and their adaptability to new and different cultures.
There is also the fact that exclusivity creates the illusion of value. People often assume that a product is objectively better if it is expensive or uncommon, whether or not this is true. The same applies to mystery traditions and exclusive witchcraft groups. With science and academia, the value is more tangible and we can see how the magic really works. Certain herbs contain chemicals that make them suitible as entheogens, for poisoning, and for healing.
Academia at large sadly tends to shy away from metaphysics such as other planes of existance and sympathetic magic. Some like Robert Monroe have approached areas like parapsychology objectively without relying much on just so stories and superstition. To me, this seems like the best path forward as opposed to reading and believing without thinking for yourself.
Re: What is witchcraft? By: Brysing Moderator / Adept
Post # 6 Sep 23, 2015
It's nice to have replies to my post; but I must stress that what I have written are only my own opinions.
However, they are opinions formed over a lifetime of study, reading hundreds of books (probably thousands!); having long discussions with Priests,Rabbis, and Imams.Meeting many Pagans over the years; hearing the great speakers,Crowley,Sanders,Valiente, Patricia Crowther, give lectures on The Occult,Witchcraft and Magic. I worked for a year helping to build the huge Markazi Mosque in Dewsbury,Yorkshire; where I made many Muslim friends. I also had the wisdom and knowledge of my friend and Mentor,Mrs Marshall, for over sixty years.
It was all these years that formed my opinions. I don't expect them to the same as other opinions! And I do not want any arguments as to whether I'm right or wrong. These are my opinions, they do not have to be yours! I am not trying to teach;merely stating my own beliefs; and trying to explain who I am, and what I am.
Brysing I really appreciate this post because I was having a problem about how magic is expressed in the Bible, but you described magic and gave examples of magic that is simply natural and I needed to hear that, thank you.
