NMR ISSUE 19

Astrological Forecast 19
Crystals
Earth, Air, Fire and Water
Editorial
Giraffe
Growing Through Joy
Hermes, Guide of Souls
Letters 19
Magic and the Western Mind
On Distillation
Public Rituals & Children
Solitary Talk
Solstice Song for Summer
The Oldest Magick
The Principles of Magick
The Purpose of Being a Magician
The Significator
The Spirit of Shamanism
The Turning of the Ages
Two to Get You Mad
Understaning Your Dreams

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The Principles of Magick

By Diana Haronis

The full moon glows like a halo above the silent, robed figures as they move purposefully, to form a circle beneath the night sky. Candle flames cast dancing shadows upon their skin. Incense burns, carrying their prayers to the Goddess on spirals of fragrant smoke. Like actors in a divine play, they create through their movements, thoughts, words and gestures, a spiritual pattern that will later become manifest in the physical.

Magick has existed throughout history. It is an innate part of each of us. It has long served as a means of contacting and achieving union with nature and the Divine.

Magick and ritual are outer expressions of an inner principle. It works not as a result of outward physical actions, but as the natural outcome of the directed will and purpose related to these actions. Emotion, visualization and will are the keys to successful magickal practices. A ritual or magickal tool serves as a focal point and, at times, a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms.

To understand magick, one must first understand that all things originate within the spiritual plane and filter down into the physical plane. The physical is a reflection of what is occurring at a spiritual level; therefore, we are always working with both realms simultaneously—as above so below.

Sympathetic magick is based on the assumption that one may initiate action in the physical, to bring through a similar action from a higher level. Obvious examples are talismans and image candles. A symbolic replica is designed, and energy is directed into it, in order to outwardly affect that which it represents. As another example: ancients thought that a cut would heal faster if they also applied the healing salve to the blade that had created the wound.

Our ancestors used sympathetic magick in many ways, for example, to control weather, to encourage the growth of crops and for healing. The basis of this practice is to recreate a similar set of circumstances or a symbolic representation of what it is we wish to change. As we put energy into this replica, it reflects back on to the actual person or situation involved. Sympathetic magick is the basis of all rituals, whether it be the Circle dance of the ancients (to encourage the movement of the sun across the sky) or the high mass of the Catholic Church (where the wine and the host are seen to be the blood and body of Christ).

Another key to understanding magick is the awareness that all aspects of the natural world carry their own particular contribution of energy—their own essence and reason for being. All things, from flowers, herbs and crystals, to color and sound have individual spiritual properties that we can use and direct to bring about specific, magickal results.

Magick demands that we expand to encompass a much broader scope than our own limited views or talents, and to tap into the hidden forces of the universe. Projecting one's essence into that Element or object which you wish to influence is an essential part of magick. An example of this is bringing rain by becoming one with the Element Water, and willing rain to come.

Emotion is another important aspect of magick. The more genuine emotion, feeling and desire we can generate while working our spells, the more powerful will be the result. As an example, often it is difficult for people who are non-materialistic to manifest large amounts of money. It is hard for them to create the necessary strength of feeling and emotional need behind the desire. Guilt is another inhibitor when manifesting materialistic goals. Feelings of guilt or unworthiness tend to make our spells work in reverse. It is necessary not only to want the positive result, but also to know you are worthy of receiving it.

Magick also uses thought projection and telepathy. These techniques may be used not only to connect with other people, but also animals. A projected thought is free from the limits imposed by language barriers, and is therefore comprehensible on an inner level transcending cultural or hereditary differences. You may gain the trust of an animal, or rid your garden of unwanted pests by communicating to them in such a way. Telepathy or thought projection may be used to communicate with others at a distance when regular methods are impossible. To do this, enter a relaxed, meditative state of mind. Use visualization to project thoughts and images to the person you wish to contact. While visualizing the person as clearly as possible, send the words or thoughts repeatedly until you feel the message has been received. When receiving a thought projection, we may not consciously be aware of doing so; but we will feel it on an inner level, perhaps as a sudden urge or idea. Often spirit guides communicate with us in this way. They influence our actions in order to put us in the right place at the right time, or protect us from harm. They may also influence the actions of others in order to bring messages to us. They may guide us to a book that contains a message for us, place a thought or idea into our mind, or influence another person to speak their words of guidance.

As well as thoughts and images, we can project energy. Properly directed energy can arouse lust, love, fear or intimidation. It can also be used to heal and protect yourself and others from harm. In order to do this; we must first learn how to channel the spiritual energy readily available to us, as well as our own subtle energies, which the physical body supplies in abundance. For this reason, witches perform rituals in the nude, or skyclad.

The yogis of the East teach that one should not impede the flow of energy within the body by wearing tight or restricting clothes. The kundalini, or sexual energy, is quite potent and may be tapped to bring about significant results. There are many methods, such as yoga and tantra which teach the manipulation and channeling of this energy. In sexual magick, practitioners often use energy to manifest their desire on a physical level. Throughout the union, sexual energy is focused on a specific goal through visualization and thought projection. At the point of climax this visualized thought is held strongly within the minds of the participants, thus releasing this combined concentrated energy to fulfill its purpose. The energy force born of such union is the magickal child. This type of magick does not need to be done on a physical level; those who have mastered spiritual merging may also achieved it.

Merging is a technique of becoming one with another being. It is a sharing or blending of basic essence or life force. You achieve it by projecting your kundalini energy into another, while pulling your partner's energy into yourself. When we achieve complete spiritual merging with another soul (a physical being, a spirit guide or deity) we reach a point of climax that encompasses our entire being, far exceeding the purely physical act of love.

The creative imagination is essential for developing our psychic and spiritual powers, as is our ability to expand our consciousness beyond ourselves. All the forces surrounding us speak through the subtle projection of imagery and life force. In order to communicate, we must first understand and become aware of the many energies and influences which affect our lives. In this way, we not only gain control over destinies, and ourselves but we also achieve a sense of inner balance, harmony and a feeling of oneness with all life.

Blessed Be!