I havent seen much talk about magic here and I thought this forum might get the most positive response since most Pagans seem to believe in magic even if they dont use it, and also i'm curious as to how those of you that do practice magic incorporate it into your Pagan beliefs. So I was wondering if anyone was up for a discussion on magic. Your theories, practices, the history of, why you think its bullshit....all thoughts and comments are welcome. I would really like to know, for those of you who practice magic, what type of energies you work with and what systems you use if any. I have come across a lot of sites lately that list spells and rituals for every little thing but there is little talk about the training needed to make the spells and rituals effective.
Interesting topic For me personally, I've only done spells a few times. Mostly because I'm an extremely down to earth person, but also because I feel like things happen for a certain reason so you shouldn't interfere with the naturals ways too much. I don't feel like you should have a lot of practise.. for me, it's all about the intentions. For my spells I just do what feels natural to me. I'm not really into chanting and using all kinds of different stuff. I don't even cast a circle. For me, being raised as a Catholic, it's more like some kinda of prayer. I write down my wish ('prayer' if you like) on paper.. I make it rhyhme, because that way I have to put a little more thought and effort in it. I burn some insence, maybe use some symbols (like chalking down a pentagram to symbolize protection and acknowledgement of the elements).. then I burn the paper, together with some stuff I find appropriate (like an 'offering').. after which I light a candle (normal, white one) to let my wish 'linger'. I dunno.. I did a very simple one ones and it worked, creeped me out.. hehe.. I wished that a friend whom I didn't talk to for quite a while would contact me before the next full moon (two weeks from that point) because I had no way of contacting him.. he contacted me within a week. Maybe coincidence.. maybe not Lost contact again though.. Other spell I did was a very elaborate version of the above.. more ingredients, bigger candle, more symbols etc.. even used a bit of blood (I'm a sucker for blood.. hehe) to make it clear how important it was for me. Basically it was a spell for a friend of mine who imho has a huge emotional blokade because of his childhood, so I did sort of a banishing spell thingie followed by a wish for the present and future. I collected the ashes from what I burned in a little pouch and gave it to him.. but I don't think it really did anything, he still lives very much isolated :/ So.. just two examples.. I dunno if I can call myself a pagan.. as I don't know if I can call myself a buddhist. I'm very interested in both paths and my approach is largly ecclectic. Hope to have been of some help I'm very interested for stories of others as well..
Hello Velvet, Very interesting post, i've never been much for spells myself but I love hearing stories from people who have had success using them. One thing i've always wondered is how just about anybody with a little knowledge of spell mechanics can gain results in a short time. I suppose its a mixture of will power and faith, a lot like a prayer actually. Also, for your friend I would suggest you write him an affirmation or get him to write one for himself to deal with his emotional problems. Just make sure it is worded entirely in the present as if he was already over his problems and dont use any negative words such as cant, wont, and so on. Then get him to repeat it at least 40 times a day, especially when hes getting close to going to sleep. His subconscious will take care of the rest and he may be surprised with the results, its a very effective method.
Just clearing this up - not a pagan but I work with magick. I work with the power of transformation. In terms of energy work I work mostly with Taoist systems, but in terms of higher practices I believe that magick is just something that helps coinsidence work in your favour and that the best way to get something you want is getting off your ass and getting it. Magick is the fire and the enthusiasm that gets you to get off your ass. When I say the power of transformation I mean I work with the princible that everything in the universe has a purpose, once it's purpose has been fulfilled it transform (or evolve as some like to say) to move on to greater things. Lead will be lead until there is no longer any need for lead, at which point it will turn itself into gold. Blessings Sebbi
www.bewitchingways.com has a good list of spells and rituals, in case you're interested. Local bookstores are starting to carry more and more books with some good rituals and spells in them, find one that you're comfortable using. I incorporate at least one spell per Sabbat and Esbat, to help with the progression of things in my life, ie improving status at work or family relations, mostly. It's hard to say exactly how often I use magic, sometimes I can go for months w/o it, sometimes I'm doing something weekly.
i'm in a state of transition right now. my altar is hiding in a cupboard - not because my christian boyfriend has a problem with it, actually it bothers him more that i feel i have to hide it - but because i've been feeling very stressed out and self conscious lately and it's so very personal. because of the very small shared space i'm currently living in, old-fashioned circle-casting and ritual is out for me, just for the time being. so lately i've been taking the view of making one's magic be what one does. for example, one of my 4 jobs right now is as a chambermaid for an inn. as i prepare the rooms for the guests, i prepare "room" in my life for my True Desires - beginning with cleaning, scrubbing out the shower and toilet area (purifying/banishing), then the major preparations for the guest's arrival, fresh towels & linens, making the bed (providing the place in my life for manifestation) and ending with the meaningful details, straightening pictures, arrangement of the business card & tip envelope on the dresser, replacing the throw rugs (visualizing the outcome). sometimes i chant while scrubbing the shower or mopping the floor. right now i'm trying to obtain an apartment. my chant comes not from the reclaiming collective or any ancient mystical system, but from my favorite poem by denise levertov: "let me be in the place of the castle. let the castle be within me."
Personally I hate this ideaof selling 'spell books', specially when so many of the ones I see seem to be targeted at young girls and claim to get their dream boy to fall in love with them!!1!?/!!11'#1!1zero1! Must admit I'm one of these people that will use other peoples spells and rituals as inspiration and then create my own from that inspiration
I like to use gnostic meditation & servitors and exchange energy with the natural world. I sometimes use sigils for specific intent.
