LESSON I
MAGIC
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MAGIC
Most people who have an interest in Wicca come to it first from an interest in magic. Therefore we will begin these lessons by talking about magic. Many people would say that magic is only a small part of the Wiccan religion, and in the sense of spellcraft, this is true. But in a broader sense everything about Wicca is magic, because Wicca is about transformation, creation, and spiritual growth -and this after all is what magic is all about. But what is magic, and how does it work?
THEORY
The Universe is composed of energy. Everything around you -everything you see and many things you don’t- are composed of energy.
You, too, are composed of energy. Your body, which seems so solid, is composed of endless numbers of microscopic particles held together at the sub-atomic level by energy.
Science has taught us this. But the Vedic sages of India have taught this too - for many thousands of years. In Europe the Druids, and after them the Witches, recognized this fact as well.
Even the most solid stone is in fact composed of millions and billions of atoms and molecules orbiting each other in the endless and graceful Dance of Life.
This is part of the meaning of that ancient maxim “AS ABOVE SO BELOW.” That just as we live in a vast universe filled with countless stars, so too whole universes of a different nature exist within us, within the microscopic make up of our being. Worlds within worlds.
The electro-magnetic energy which holds electrons and protons and other microscopic particles in place has had many names; Chi (Asia), Mana (Polynesia), Orenda (Iroquois), Od (German), the Force (Star Wars), and Psychic Energy (contemporary). For the purposes of these lessons we will call it simply “energy.”
Energy is not static or inanimate - it is responsive and dynamic in character. It is like a fluid in its movements, and is symbolically likened to water. Yet it is also likened to light and to fire because of its effects. In more contemporary times it has also been likened to an electric current in its qualities, though it is not so harsh or unpredictable as this. In truth energy is unique unto itself, and only by working with it can you come to understand it -comparisons to other substances give only a rough approximation of what it is like.
It is the shape this energy assumes that creates the pattern of the physical world we see around us - for all physical forms are structured from it.
We interact with this energy every day - in every second of our lives. It constantly transforms, renews, or changes its shape within and around us. This constant change responds to and is driven by our thoughts and emotions in ways of which most of us are unaware, and of which fewer still have any understanding. It takes its shape from us, in reaction to us, as instantly and naturally as air conforms to the surface of the Earth, or water to the shape of the sea floor.
But this is an unconscious process - we don’t think about it, we’re mostly unaware of it. For most of us this daily shaping of energy occurs from the level of our unconscious beliefs and emotions, as automatic and out of our control as our unconscious is itself. Often we do not even know what our unconscious beliefs and emotions really are, let alone how they effect us on an energetic level.
But when we bring our conscious mind and will power to bear on this process, it is a very different situation. Rather than an unconscious process out of our own control, the shaping of energy -and thus of the world itself- becomes a precise and deliberate skill which lies directly in our hands.
This is MAGIC. The art of consciously focusing and controlling this all-pervasive energy. Through focused will and effort we use the universal energy to effect the things around us. As energy reacts to thought and emotion, thought and emotion can be used to control or influence it. (Energy also reacts to certain physical stimuli, but we will deal less with that aspect than with thought and emotion -yoga is an excellent forum to study the influence of physical stimuli upon energy.)
It must be understood that it is not from the ordinary level of our conscious mind that we do this. If it were everyone would be doing it, and it would be easy to teach.
Rather, magic is done from a higher level of consciousness, the HIGHER SELF. Scientists studying psychics have found that when a person enters a psychic trance their brainwaves change. Psychics in trance do not use the normal beta waves associated with ordinary consciousness, but use instead the theta and delta waves associated with sleep. This is true of a person performing an act of magic as well - we access a higher part of ourselves, a change in consciousness which shows even in our very brain waves. Only at this level are we fully conscious, truly human.
It is not hard to reach this level - but it is hard tolearn to do it at will, to be able to access it on command. This is called SHIFTING CONSCIOUSNESS, and an accomplished witch can do it in the twinkling of an eye, with no external effort or trappings. The student however should expect to put out some effort to effect this change in consciousness, and may have to work hard to master it. Also, a number of external factors may be used to help effect this change -specific words, ritual patterns, or items such as stones or artifacts which have power in themselves or which serve to put the person “in the right frame of mind” for example. Such external trappings are KEYS which we use to help us effect the shift in consciousness to access our higher self. They work on a symbolic level, bypassing conscious and unconscious limitations to act directly upon the higher self.
There are many different ways by which magic can be performed. All of them have the same basic goal; to focus energy and direct it from a state of higher consciousness. Visualization, trance, spellcraft (using external tools such as candles, cords, etc....), ritual of various sorts, chanting and toning, all of these and many other techniques can be used to create the necessary shift in consciousness. Which is the best way? That depends very much on the individual. What serves one person best may not work at all for another - everyone is different. That is why it is important to study and try as many different techniques as possible, because only you can know what will work best for you, and then only by experience. In these lessons we will present as much useful instruction as possible, and as wide a variety of techniques as possible, but in the end your growth depends upon your willingness to experiment and put together those techniques which serve you best.
PRACTICE
Through magic we influence or control the things around us, therefore it is wise to use magic only to make these things better. The ancient rule of Wicca is “DO AS YOU WILL BUT HARM NONE.” Magic is a great power, and can be a great responsibility, and you do well to use it wisely. Everything you do comes back to you, through KARMA. Every action you take, in time you will also experience from the receiving end. So that when you do something good for another, you are also doing something good for yourself, as you will eventually experience the same good as a recipient. But if you do harm, that same harm you ultimately do to yourself. This is very important to understand and remember. You should bear it in mind in every aspect of your life, including the magic you practice. To do harm is not only wrong in itself, but ultimately hurts the doer.
Moreover most Wiccans believe in the LAW OF THREE, that is to say that what you do comes back to you not only once, but multiple times. Some Wiccans believe that the number Three in the Threefold Law is meant to be taken literally -that the Karma of our actions returns to us exactly three times. In the Correllian Tradition we consider the number Three to be symbolic of plurality in general, rather than a specific number of times. Thus in Correllian terms the Law of Three means that you will experience the Karma of your actions as many times as necessary to learn the necessary lesson.
Always ask yourself “How would I feel if I were on the receiving end?” before you do anything that effects another, because in fact you will in time receive it back, for all things return to their source. But so long as you work with a pure heart and good intent, Karma will be your benefactor.
Magic and Psychism are words that describe two aspects of the same process - connecting to the higher self. The word psychic comes from the Greek Psyche (pro.; SI-kee) meaning soul or spirit, i.e.; the higher self. In magic we use this connection actively, to create a certain response in the world. In PSYCHISM we use the same connection passively, to receive information about the world. We also use the word psychic to describe the exercises we use to develop both these skills.
Magic is worked from the higher self. Everything that helps you to connect with your higher self helps magic. Regular meditation and psychic exercises are a valuable tool to strengthen that connection. The connection is like a muscle, and grows stronger with use. The more you do -even if at first you do not see success- the better you will get, and the easier it will be. Persistence is important.
In its opening stages the most important thing about magic is to concentrate -focus as much energy as you can into what you are doing. This is rather like wishing very, very hard. This level of concentration is always an aspect of magic, but later it will seem automatic and will not take such effort.
If you are visualizing, try to see what you are visualizing as clearly as possible. Make the image as concrete and three dimensional as you can. Visualization is one of the strongest aids to concentration.
Whatever magical working you are undertaking, by whatever method, try to put your whole being into it. The more of yourself you can put into the work, the more energy you can focus into it, the greater the effect it will have.
PSYCHIC HYGIENE
One of the most important aspects of magical working, which is equally important in every magical act you ever perform, is psychic hygiene. Psychic hygiene prevents energy from becoming blocked in your body, which can make it difficult to use energy properly. Every time you do a magical work you raise energy -that is you focus and direct energy. When you have finished you will still have excess energy left in your body, which must be released. You might think that retaining this excess energy would be good, but it is not - it clogs up and causes problems. Too much of this excess energy can cause serious problems. So always practice good psychic hygiene.
You can sometimes tell if you have excess energy after a ritual or magical working if you find yourself feeling lightheaded, or off balance, or disoriented. Sometimes also it will manifest as a feeling of hyperactivity, an inability to be still - literally a feeling of excess energy. But even if you feel nothing unusual, you may still have excess energy and make it a point to clear and release as a matter of course.
Another word for clearing and releasing excess energy is GROUNDING. You will find complete instructions for releasing in the EXERCISES section of this lesson. Make sure to read them.
Psychic hygiene is always important when you do magic or psychic work. You should cleanse and release both before you begin, and especially after you finish. But this is not the only time its important. Many people on a magical path tend to pick up energy from others -usually emotional energy. Such a people may find themselves picking up another person’s emotions, mood, or tension level, without knowing it. The same techniques of psychic hygiene can be used to release such “pick-ups” as well. Moreover, because we tend to pick up from others in this way, it is important to practice PSYCHIC SHIELDING. Psychic shielding basically strengthens your own boundaries, so that you do not pick up any energy you don’t want. Its good to practice psychic shielding regularly, even daily, as it helps to keep the AURA strong.