What is Magic?

[Mohammed Salah]

Magic is a tremendous theme that hold many overlaping branches, religions, philosophies, ideas.....etc
A huge maze
but what is magic about?
I found three major definitions
1-Aleister Crowley (Magic is the art and science in causing change in conformitywith will)
2-Dion Fortune (Magic is the art and science in causing change in conformity or Psyche with will)
Although highly accepted and approved between all Occult circles, but I feel it is not enough for holding the core quintessence of this divine science.
So the above mentioned I feel that they focusing on the outcome of magic and slightly on the quintessence of it.
3-Papus in his monumental work - A practical treaties on elementary magic - posted an all-compassing definition
(Magic is the science for understanding God, through understanding the nature of universe and the nature of Man)
because God no creature arrives to his holiness level to get a full understanding of his operations and wisdom, so Man can only feel God holiness through study and contemplation the mechanisms of the Cosmos and the inner operations of Man.
So I think Papus`s definitions touches the inner intimate core of Magic idenity.

 

[Ananda]

What you need to know is that magic is haram, according to Islam.

 

[Morell]

What you need to know is that magic is haram, according to Islam.

On a forum filled with magic practitioners... who cares? Besides it wasn't that much forbidden considering huge libraries of Islamic occultism.

I find trying to ban magic quite stupid and hypocritical.

 

[Van Horne]

What you need to know is that magic is haram, according to Islam.

So is ham! You should try it, it's freakin' delicious!

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 9:21 AM

An interesting approach by Valentin Tomberg:
"There are three kinds of magic: magic where the magician is the instrument of divine power - this sacred magic; magic where the magician himself is the source of the magical operation - this is personal magic; lastly, magic where the magician is the instrument of elemental forces or other unconscious forces - this is sorcery."

 

[MorganBlack]

Well, magic is now thought of like art. Once art became about self-expression, then anything you express is art. Quality is a secondary consideration.

I'd love to see an evidence-based timeline of Magic and magical thinking as a wiki project. From the rise of shamanic magical symbolic thinking by Homo erectus 500,000 years ago, to capital 'M' Magic in the Mediterranean Greco-Roman world , to Dragon Ball Z chaos magic with Goku as a god. (Yes, it's a thing.).

 

[Van Horne]

Well, magic is now thought of like art. Once art became about self-expression, then anything you express is art. Quality is a secondary consideration.

I'd love to see an evidence-based timeline of Magic and magical thinking as a wiki project. From the rise of shamanic magical symbolic thinking by Homo erectus 500,000 years ago, to capital 'M' Magic in the Mediterranean Greco-Roman world , to Dragon Ball Z chaos magic with Goku as a god. (Yes, it's a thing.).

Good points and a very interesting idea!

Magic changed over time with changing needs and capabilities of Human civilization. From basic things like finding food (and someone to mate with), healing sickness and fighting enemies or getting filthy rich to more sophisticated goals like gaining wisdom, finding peace of mind or self-expression. For some tasks magic became obsolete through science, but others still need a little help from the other side! Especially personal struggles, that's a main reason for why there is still an interest in it, I guess. Still, science cannot answer every question and it lacks empathy, religion in its common forms is to dogmatic and lacks personal freedom and control, for magic is proactive.

 

[Amur]

Collapsing quantum states I would say. To manifest either a dead schrödingers cat or an alive one (it's in both states before you observe it )

 

[FireBorn]

Magick just is. It is humans trying to do somersaults to define it. Magick never changed, we did.

How we get there is wide and varied. So long as we get there. If you get there with a specific system, good for you. Just get there.

Personally, I dont bother defining it. I just experience it. Way smarter men have tried for thousands of years and failed to define it. It is my opinion that if you can define magick, you left the current and turned it into a math problem. You missed it entirely.

 

[Van Horne]

Magic changed over time

Magick never changed, we did.

Agreed! I have to specify: the purpose of magic...

 

[taschr]

I've always appreciated the Buddhist take on the magical powers which is that they are side effects of spiritual advancement. Attempting to structure a foundational model beyond this will only generate doubt, which is the first great hindrance that one must overcome on the spiritual path.

 

[Romolo]

Magic is a jar of molten snow kept in a drawer. A red ribbon tied to a branch in the woods. A serpent-shaped branch held in a cool hand. A phrase whispered thrice at a crossroads. The ontologies (what is good? what is bad? what is beauty? what is justice?) will not get you to the core. You will just circle around it. In worst case you will end up in a place that has nothing to with your question at all.