What is magic?
S.L. Mathers, an occultist, defined magic as 'the science of the control of the secret forces of nature'. The word 'secret' may be taken as meaning that the 'forces', though natural, have not yet been thoroughly and systematically ovserved and categorized and that their mode of operation remains mysterious.
From another point of view, 'magic' might be defined as the power which causes an event or change to happen on command without any apparent physical cause or use of the known laws of nature. When we see something inexplicable that has clearly been intended to happen, we say 'It's magic!' or perhaps 'It's a miracle!' Stage illusionists are commonly known as magicians. The difference between stage magic and true magic is that in true magic what appears to happen has actually happened; in stage magic this is not the case.
We have labelled many events as magical in the past simply because the natural laws that caused them to occur had net yet been discovered or were not generally known. Hypnotism was regarded as magic, for example. So was magnetism. Until the twentieth century many folk regarded successful telepathic communication as acts of magic. Nowadays telepathy is one of many sometime 'magical' arts grouped together under the heading 'extra-sensory-perception', and the study of the 'magical' and of such phenomena as ghosts and poltergeists is dealt with by scholars of a new science labelled 'parapsychology'. No one has yet explained how 'magic' works, even though there is plenty of evidence provided by anthropologists to show that it does work. Witches can practise magic successfully but cannot explain the process, any more than philosophers can explain the operation of what is called 'thinking'. We know how magic works but we do not know why it works.
One current theory suggests that, as everything in the world possesses an energy field, and the humlan body possesses a very powerful one, an act of magic consists in focusing this electro-magnetic energy and transmitting it, often by way of a highly symbolic 'language'. This symbolic language appears to be of images which are transmitted either verbally or by mental pictures, accompanied by ritual acts which help the mind concentrate. This electro-magnetic energy may be similar to that emitted by the moon and stars, which astrologers believe affects the character, and therefore the destiny, of all creatures. It has been objected that the energy put out by the moon maybe considerable but that such planets as Venus send out very weak impulses and are therefore ineffective, but one must recall that in medicine it is often the case that a small dose may be effective and a larger one either ineffective or counter-productive. One cannot measure effectiveness in terms of quantity in either medicine or mechanics.
The use of this energy, which has been called 'the Odic Force', or, simply, 'the Power', does not appear to be dependent upon any particular religious belief. Magic is not peculiar to witches. It has been used by practitioners of all religions, from the most ancient to the most modern. Sometimes the magical formulae are called prayers or hymns. Sometimes they are called spells or charms. They are to be found in Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Mohammedanism and all other major religions. In most of these the magic formulae involve the use of the names of gods or spirits. These are regarded as ways of calling up and focusing the required energy. A strong belief in anything is productive of psychic energy. What we believe has reality for us; we are what we believe we are.
The witch's religion differs from other religions in believing that everyone possesses psychic power; it is not a kind of extra talent given to some few people as an act of divine (or diabolical) generosity. All human beings possess energy fields and therefore possess psychic power. Most of them use this power unconsciously or intuitively in their human relationships. A number, however, learn how to use it consciously and develop their abilities. I am not suggesting that, because everyone has power, everyone can be a witch, any more than I would suggest that everyone with feet can be a longdistance runner, or everyone with a larynx can become an opera star. We all share the same faculties and obey and use the same laws of nature, but in each one of us some faculties are more fully developed than others.
The magical power is not supernatural. It does not break natural laws. It is hypernatural.
Witches use faculties common to everyone. These are hard to describe, but one might summarize them under the general heading 'ESP'. We all have some telepathic abilities; witches simply have developed them and made them subject to the will rather than to chance. We all pick up 'vibrations' from places and people; witches have increased this ability. We all, whether we realize it or not, have the ability to perfomr psychic healing or faith healing; parents regularly do this for their children, and doctors' bedside manner and use of placebos are often as effective as their drugs. Where witches differ from other people is simply that they study and use these hypernatural faculties in a systematic fashion. The healing abilities of witches are well known and well documented, and their percipience in the use of Tarot cards is testified by many people.
The witch's craft is not outside nature, not supernatural. Nevertheless, it remains mysterious. We can no more explain it than we can explain why some people are 'gifted' in one direction and others in another. And the 'magical' faculty, like all other human faculties, can be used for good or bad ends.
The difference between a witch's use of these powers and the use made by some others is simply that the witch works within the framework of a religion and an ethical discipline that prevents those powers being used irresponsibly or to harm.
Back to main