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This article is from the Spell/Hex FAQ, by cat cat@luckymojo.com with numerous contributions by others.

22A Is magic real, how does it work, what influences it?

Many have suggested the differentiation of magical 'currents'
or 'energies' based on style and/or intent. Some posit the
notion of principles, a la scientific structure, 'laws of
magic' and what-not. Others approach it more subjectively,
considering all knowledge about the elements of magic to be
personal and therefore particular only to the individual
condition, variable of form.

All of these are popular responses to this question, though
more inventive theories would be welcomed. Conventional
approaches may be cross-posted to
news:sci.philosophy.meta.

Chameleon (mailto:chameleon_@hotmail.com), a
self-professed "newbie," put the question this way,
in regard to casting spells:

"I have a couple magic books at home and have
read through them. A lot of them use a type of
hypnosis to channel energy and though I have
read of the use of herbs and incense to burn,
is it the burning drug that is supposed to do
the magic or is it your energy that makes it come
true? Different books do things differently."

Here is an answer supplied by cat yronwode
(cat@luckymojo.com):

"As for how magic works, one theory is that certain
objects, including but not limited to natural curios
suchas roots, herbs, minerals, and animal parts, have
within them a certain a-causal link to some realm of
human endeavour, often by virtue of their shape, colour,
size, or scent. Thus, to give two examples, violet
leaves, which look like hearts, are used in love magic,
and lodestones, which are natural magnetic rocks, are
used to "draw" wealth, love, or luck to the holder. These
operations may be carried out with or without reference
to religious entities (gods, spirits, saints).

"An overlapping, but actually slightly different form of
magic involves human-made artifacts -- amulets, lucky
charms, talismans, and the like. These can be made by
the magician him or herself but are often prepared for
clients by a conjurer, craft-worker, or jeweler."

Generally speaking, folk-magic and the magic of rural
people seems to place greater emphasis on objects --
herbs, minerals, animal teeth or bones, human sexual
fluids, candles, incense, and so forth -- than it does
on the "energy" of the person casting the spell.

Conversely, ceremonial magic, chaos magic, and other
urban-based traditions tend to place more emphasis on
"will" or directed personal power.

A third path is that of the religiously-inclined magician,
who believes that invocation or summoning of deities,
saints, spirits, or angels influences the outcome of a
magical spell.

To the best of our knowledge, none of these three distinctly
different theories has been empirically proven "right" or
"wrong," so the individual practitioner is left to follow
the tradition most congenial to his or her world-view and
personality.

 

Continue to:

• prev: 21 What is magic(k)?
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• next: 22B Is magic compatible with modern Science?

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