What made you believe in the existence of magic?

[shallowgravez]

I still don’t believe in it. Works anyway.

 

[Accipeveldare]

I was about 14 when I began. By then I had freshly alienated myself from the Christian faith. (Now, I realize how similair my values are to certain Catholic or Orthodox traditions, just with different goals than them) However, I did not start to move past the whole "revolting against God" schtick until i was older. I learned magick worked at about 16 when I finally practiced it instead of just reading about it. It worked, and it worked well, surprisingly so. So I continued and have been to this day.

I must confess, to this day I look back on my past self and cringe at times. I am 23 now, and I find it so odd how I can grow so much in such a short amount of time. I am happy I did though, I was a mess back then. Not to say I am not now, everyone is, but more so then than now.

 

[MagisterHermes]

I was about 14 when I began. By then I had freshly alienated myself from the Christian faith. (Now, I realize how similair my values are to certain Catholic or Orthodox traditions, just with different goals than them) However, I did not start to move past the whole "revolting against God" schtick until i was older. I learned magick worked at about 16 when I finally practiced it instead of just reading about it. It worked, and it worked well, surprisingly so. So I continued and have been to this day.

I must confess, to this day I look back on my past self and cringe at times. I am 23 now, and I find it so odd how I can grow so much in such a short amount of time. I am happy I did though, I was a mess back then. Not to say I am not now, everyone is, but more so then than now.

So don't feel ashamed of it anymore because the path you took was right and necessary for you. It's possible that if you hadn't gone through that period, you wouldn't have achieved the growth you have today.

 

[giusma]

Practice

 

[Accipeveldare]

So don't feel ashamed of it anymore because the path you took was right and necessary for you. It's possible that if you hadn't gone through that period, you wouldn't have achieved the growth you have today.

Indeed. Thank you for reminding me of that.

 

[MagisterHermes]

Indeed. Thank you for reminding me of that.

You're welcome, don't mention it.

In this life, there are two truly great masters: the past, and those who have caused us the deepest harm or injustice. It is from them that we extract our most profound lessons. This is the true spiritual alchemy—turning the lead of our suffering into the gold of wisdom.

In time, we learn to hold them in gratitude, for they inadvertently became the catalysts for our growth.

 

[somanydyanamos]

I came at it from the point of view of wanting to test it scientifically - if I do certain things, certain effects follow. What are those effects and are they measurable and repeatable? Having tested certain things, I can say that certain things have followed. Can I be sure that they are completely 100% real and a result of the actions I took? In the words of Robert Anton Wilson, "I don't believe anything, but I have many suspicions".

 

[Akairyuu]

Mine started in secondary school. I started getting sensitive and could feel rivers of magnetic energy flowing through me. When I experimented with energy control/manipulation, I found that people could respond to it and feel what I'm doing. My clairvoyance started around this time too and found I had an aptitude for healing with positive feedback.

Much later, after trying new age stuff, paganism and settling into Ceremonial Magick, I found some of my spells really starting to have effect, especially with the Arbatel where I've had a lot of success.

 

[Accipeveldare]

You're welcome, don't mention it.

In this life, there are two truly great masters: the past, and those who have caused us the deepest harm or injustice. It is from them that we extract our most profound lessons. This is the true spiritual alchemy—turning the lead of our suffering into the gold of wisdom.

In time, we learn to hold them in gratitude, for they inadvertently became the catalysts for our growth.

That is some of the best advise I have gotten in a while. I will hold my past shortcomings in gratitude, as well as you, my friend!