On the Workings of Magic

[The God-King]

Magic, at it's core, is simply using your will to accomplish a goal. We use our will to manipulate energy and use that energy to manifest our desires. This may lead some the question of how. How does magic work? It is a valid question. But it isn't easy to answer. To understand exactly how magic works you have to understand the Flow of Intent as the High Priestess who trained me used to call it. It is my hope that with this primer on the workings of magic, to give the novice practitioner of the arts the insight on how the spells and rituals they are performing works. For ease of I will try to compare these explanations to the creation of a consumer product.

The Flow of Intent

Not an official term in the magical community, it's a term my High Priestess coined to explain the pattern flow that the energy being manipulated in a spell or ritual (the form most magical acts are packaged in) takes in order to accomplish our goals. It it with this term I will attempt to explain the hows of magic:

The Astral Plane

It is here that our desires and goals take shape. Anytime we give anything enough thought (energy) to make it a desire, a wish, a goal, a want (or w/e word choice you would like to call it) will then begin to shape itself on the astral plane. So, consequently, it is also the plane where our dreams take place and why in our dreams we can do and become anything.

Even before you start implementing the elements of your ritual or spell you will most likely be thinking about your desired result or the outcome of the spell. This will allow your desire to be manifested on the astral plane and once you begin the ritual or spell your desires are ready to be "manufactured" or created on the elemental plane.


The Elemental Plane

The Plane of the Elements also known as the "blueprint plane". This plane gets very little face time in many books on magic. To be honest, if memory serves me correct, I've only it in one book. Despite this fact this is probably the most important part of the Flow of Intent. This is where your desires are created. They took shape on the Astral Plane (think of it as the planning phase or the idea phase) and on the Elemental Plane they are created (the manufacturing phase).

When casting your spell or performing the ritual as you recite the Words of Power or go through the ritual motions (dancing, singing, drawing out symbols in the air, etc) you are giving your desire purpose, life, and meaning. No longer is it just a desire or a want/need. It has been given substance. The energy you have manipulated can now move freely on to the next area in the Flow of Intent.


The Material Plane

The Plane everyone should be familiar with as we live and breathe on it every day. We are on it now. It is also known as the Physical Plane or the Plane of Existence. This is the Plane that our desires will ultimately manifest on. The last part of your spell or ritual will hopefully, with enough concentration and focus, get your desires realized. The last part of the spell or ritual consists of releasing the energy you have manipulated into the universe. This is done in a variety of ways depending on the ritual or spell being done, such methods include orgasm (for sex magic), screaming, simply focusing on releasing the energy, among a host of other methods. Your intent has now taken shape (planned on the Astral Plane), been created and packaged (manufactured on the Elemental Plane) and now is ready to be sent to the Material Plane to become realized (shipped to it's customers).

But that's not all. What happens after you work you magic is just as important as working the magic itself. Do not forget that magic is energy, and energy tends to hang with those who are just like it, other energy. It is common in the Pagan community for elders to tell novices to set it and forget it. What this means is that once the spell is cast or the ritual is closed DO NOT think about it. Pretty much try your hardest to forget about it. Any doubt, any turning thought can have a negative impact on your magic. How? See above. Magic tends to hang with those who are just like it.

During the planning phase (Astral Plane) you began to shape your intent. At this point you have started to get energy flowing (the Flow of Intent). The energy has become part of you. You then manipulated it with your will (magic) and began to set it free to realize your goal. Even though you released the energy it is still part of you despite not being attached any longer. If you begin having negative thoughts of your magic that too will take shape on the Astral Plane and follow through the steps as if you were casting a whole new spell or performing a whole new ritual and eventually negate the effect of your previous spell or ritual. It follows the same format as when one twin in one state knows when another twin in another state has died. They are not physically connected, but spiritually (energy) they are. Even positive thoughts can have an adverse effect on your magic. How? Think of it in these terms: A virgin (male) gets overly excited when his girlfriend tells him they're going to have sex tonight. They meet up, foreplay and she undresses. He gets hard but nuts before they even engage in the act. He was too excited rather than letting it happen. He spent too much time thinking about getting some pussy rather than just letting it happen as it will. Best practice is to forget about it once cast.

So, that is pretty much how magic works. A desire or need arises, energy is then manipulated with spell or ritual work to accomplish that desire and is then fashioned on two of the three planes before being released into the third plane (Material) to get realized. I hope I've shed some light on the inner mechanics of how magic works.

[Romantic]

Fantastic description; I couldn't have put it better myself.

[The God-King]

(05-07-2012 09:07 AM)Romantic Wrote:  Fantastic description; I couldn't have put it better myself.

Thank you. As you are a true energy worker please feel free to clear up any cloudy descriptions and explanations I've given. I may not have described things correctly.

[Zlogonje]

Very good description. I wasn't quite sure what the Elemental Plane was or its role exactly, but you've made that quite clear now. Thanks.

[The God-King]

(05-07-2012 12:37 PM)Ghost of Zlogonje Wrote:  Very good description. I wasn't quite sure what the Elemental Plane was or its role exactly, but you've made that quite clear now. Thanks.

For some reason the Elemental Plane doesn't get talked about much but its just as important as the astral plane.

[Unknown]

In essence, they are all wavelengths traveling through space- like we are, but merely oscillating at different frequencies.
String theory easily explains the "supernatural".
Everything I believe in is scientific.

[Hatix]

Jesus, this is an amazing, well put-together thread! Thanks alot!

[Romantic]

(05-08-2012 06:43 AM)Unknown Wrote:  In essence, they are all wavelengths traveling through space- like we are, but merely oscillating at different frequencies.
String theory easily explains the "supernatural".
Everything I believe in is scientific.

Everything? Like Wombatakacalacalawanga?

[The God-King]

(05-08-2012 07:05 AM)Hatix Wrote:  Jesus, this is an amazing, well put-together thread! Thanks alot!

Thank you. I figured I should post a primer on how magic works so beginners can understand how a spell works from the moment you conceive a desire or need to the performing of the spell to the closing.

[Unknown]

(05-08-2012 08:11 AM)Romantic Wrote:  

(05-08-2012 06:43 AM)Unknown Wrote:  In essence, they are all wavelengths traveling through space- like we are, but merely oscillating at different frequencies.
String theory easily explains the "supernatural".
Everything I believe in is scientific.

Everything? Like Wombatakacalacalawanga?

Yes, him too He's a dinosaur! Rawr ^_^
I'm slightly worried that you took the time to read that word and spell it out correctly....