| Love and Magic I've linked these two topics in this article's title for a good reason: they're indivisible. All love is magical, and all magic should be performed out of love. Anyone who's been in love needn't be told of the incredible inner transformations that occur in this state. True, lasting love creates permanent changes within the lover and the beloved. Loving another person and caring for them is an act of energy transference. If positive change through energy transference is the essence of magic, then love can rightly be considered to be an aspect of magic. My second statement above, that all magic should be performed out of love, should be true. Unfortunately, there are a very few among us who see magic as a tool of vengeance against their enemies; a shortcut that skirts around internal change, superstitious and confrontation. They'll readily argue that magic needn't be loving and that greed, jealousy, envy and even hate can motivate it. This mistaken concept stems from a lack of true magical understanding. Magic is a process of self-transformation in which the subtle energies of the body are awakened, programmed with a specific task, and set to work. Though some of these changes may seem to be external (a new employment opportunity, a new relationship), these are merely outward manifestations of the internal changes (created through magic) that are necessary for them to come to fruition. Most of these changes occur in the practitioner's consciousness as a direct result of magic. All magic is self-transformation. Our magical actions alter us forever. If we base our spells and rites on hatred and anger, we'll become hated and angry. If we build our rituals on love and caring, we'll be loved and cared for. Magic designed to harm others is a form of masochism: the practitioner expresses their lack of self-worth, acts on it (hexes), and waits for punishment. Deep within the subconscious mind, the practitioner realizes that they are the true target of any such rite; the intended victim is merely a reflection of the self. Thus, all hexing is truly self-directed. No matter what such persons publicly state, they're tuned into the Christian viewpoint of magic (it's all bad). Since they've accepted this concept, they feel free to do what they please, without the slightest regard for ethics. Magic of this sort is based on self-hatred, not hatred of others. True magic, stripped of its false definition as the use of demonic powers gained from the Devil for evil purposes, is far different. The practitioner doesn't pick a victim; they are the target (in direct contrast to hate magic). The very nature of the rituals (financial security, health, peace, protection, and an expanded ability to give and to receive love) proves that the motivation is love for the self, for our families and for the world. (Though even these magical goals can be abused by the magicians of hate.) Practicing love-motivated magic enhances the quality of our lives. It makes us stronger, healthier, more secure individuals without crushing others along the way. It also changes our attitude: enemies, illness, defeat and rejection are actually everyday challenges, not opportunities to vent hatred at ourselves. Though this discussion of love and magic won't change the minds of those who pervert our art, it just might deepen the general understanding of magical ethics. Love is always more powerful than hate. Love is creative, hate is destructive. Magic is a tool of love, guided by a simple doctrine: harm none. 1991 by Scott Cunningham. All rights reserved. | 
