The Role and Importance of Magic in this Millennium

Use the word ‘magic’ and one or more popular associations come to mind.

The first being that of the ‘wand yielding’ conjuror; the second of Hogwarts and Harry Potter and the third being the shady, somewhat disturbing images of  ‘occultists’ practising their ‘dark arts’ in temples dedicated to somewhat anti-Christian dieties.

The thing is that ‘magic’ in its purest form is about ‘effecting change’.

All ‘occultist magicians’ will define magic as ‘bringing about change in accordance with will’.

Now, let’s just stop and think about words here.

All words have ‘power’.

They create emotional responses. Think of how people react to words like ‘occult’, ‘ouija’, ‘witch’…

Each of these words produce an internal response which is tied to a personal value judgement or belief.

Part of being a ‘magician’ is not only understanding that words in and of themselves become symbols for the things they represent but also the fact that they are anchors for experience (beliefs, values, attitudes, emotions).

Without making this sound like some magical grimoire, the fact is that we are all involved in magical acts each and every day. We are bringing about change in accordance with will.

Any person actively seeking to understand themselves and their relationship to the world is not only an alchemist but a magician. The more they discover and relate the more potential there is for personal enlightenment, change and development.

If we look at historical ‘magical practices’ we see that they all have common elements..

a) a metaphysical framework upon which personal (tribal) philosophies are constructed

b) a series of ritualised activities all of which promote introspection and meditative states

c) a clear understanding of the intent of the magical opperation

d) the outer working – what is said and done physically

e) the inner working – what is said and done emotionally, internally

Such traditional practices have never been about simply ‘waving wands’ or ‘repeating spells’ even though that is the way magic and magicians are portrayed in popularist literature and art.

Personal Magic is about having the willingness, desire and ability to explore your own personal view of the world and your relationships within it.

Personal Magic is about setting the conditions (internally and externally) for creating change in accordance with will.

Personal Magic is about considering the  “illusion of the real”, the “delusion of beliefs” and the “impermanence of truth”.

Personal Magic is about finding and using frameworks which support the development of mind and “spirit” whilst maintaining a ‘rational mystical’ view of the cosmos and how it represents itself on a daily basis.

To engage in any form of personal discovery is to engage in magic.

In terms of engaging in some kind of personal magical journey the following might be of interest.

Note, however, that just because as system, construct or person is referenced does not mean that the core ideas, beliefs and processes are being endorsed as being ‘true’.

Take for example the ‘symbolic system of astrology’. There is little doubt the mechanisms which astrologers claim for their system are not part of any rational or scientific reality (it’s scientifically speaking hockum and woo woo) BUT the symbolic nature of the myths it refers to do have value.

In the same way The Tarot and The I Ching are not to be considered as ‘predictive’ or divinatory practices but as a set of symbols for and of personal change.

Metaphysical Constructs

• The Qabbalah
• The Shamanic/Pagan Traditions
• Gnosticism

Ritualistic Practices

• Meditation
• Dream Work
• Invocation
• Evocation

Symbolic Systems

• The Tarot
• Numerology
• I Ching
• Astrology
• Alchemy

Historical Perspectives

• Christianity
• Buddhism
• Taoism
• Islam
• The “Gnostic Gospels”
• The Golden Dawn
• O.T.O.
• The ‘Illuminati”
• Rosicrucianism

People

• Jung
• Ouspenski
• Gurdjieff
• Crowley
• Freud
• Skinner
• Pavlov
• Dawkins
• Hawkins
• Gardner (Gerald)
• Nichols (Ross)