Delighted by "Kether of paint"
I have a question though:
It sounds like you're saying what gets called "angels" are really the laws of physics
In this construct, I wouldn't call them laws of physics, but, laws (commands) are exactly how they are traditionally described. They do not have a will of their own. They are commanded, literally, to behave in a certain manner. They are organized in a hierarchy traditionally described as troops, or hosts. Hosts in hebrew is tz'vahoht. Tzi'vah is "command" is hebrew and "connected" in aramaic. Each angel has their "captain" which is itself an angel, which has a captain, etc. It's a chain-of-commands, tz'vahoht. Tzi'vah in the plural. Connected-commands. These commands ultimately go all the way back to the source. The top of the chain is referred to traditionally as "the-lord-of-hosts" / "YHVH-tz'vahoht" / "
יהוה צבאות".
But the general magical consensus (and this is my view) is that magic can't change the laws of physics. It can nudge possibilities but not make the physically impossible happen.
In a way that's true, but, it's not entirely true.
So, I wouldn't petition the laws of physics to let me have a break from gravity for a while.
Right. The laws of physics are at the end of the chain. "Gravity" is taking its "orders" from an angel. Because "gravity" has no will of its own, petitioning "gravity" is futile. "Gravity" is not
choosing to operate in the way that it does. It will never choose to bestow favor on an individual and violate its chain-of-commands. Petitioning the angels above it doesn't work either. They will never choose to violate their chain-of-commands. The one to petition is at the very top of the chain. This is prayer in monotheism. However, there are loopholes in the system that can be exploited. This is not a petition; it is subverting the chain-of-commands.
Exploiting these loopholes is a grey-area. All laws have two parts. There's the letter of the law, and there's the spirit of the law. The letter of the law has loopholes which can be exploited. The spirit of the law has no loopholes and cannot be exploited. The criminal mind seeks out loopholes in the letter of the law while denying the spirit of the law. That's where they get themselves into trouble. Everyone has a criminal mind to some degree. That's why it's good to have rules ( concensus ) about what can and cannot be done, but, a rule is not a law.
Am I misunderstanding you? Or are you operating under a different paradigm?
The paradigm is: there is only one which is "super-natural". This is the source for literally everything else. Everything else is natural. "Magic" is a general category for effects which are caused by individuals but the mechanism which is producing the effect is unseen. This doesn't mean that the cause is not producing an effect naturally. It means that the mechanism is not known.
Making fire at one time was considered "magic". For a primitive person, flying in an airplane would be "magic". Making cheese, bread, and wine... were all considered "magical". Gun-powder was considered "magic". Now that the mechanism is known, it's science. In some ways, its rather sad that these material phenomena are no longer considered "magic", but, I still consider igniting a flame "magical" eventhough I understand how it works. It's natural, but, it's also magical because of all that is happening which is unseen. I view all of reality as magical. Bread, wine, and cheese, for me is a magical experience.
Zooming out, all of these physical phenomena have corresponding spiritual phenomena. Everything is connected. That's the root of all "magic".
(Either "magic CAN change the laws of physics" or "magic doesn't do anything external, only internal change".
Maybe think of it this way?
The "laws of physics" as they are known today are incomplete. Magic is working with different laws which are not known and/or exploiting the laws in ways which are not fully understood. Magic is on the fringes of science.
I also wouldn't petition the laws of physics to help me, say, forgive someone, so neither interpretation seems to leave for magic)
Sure. However just as there are reliable methods for smothering a flame, there are reliable methods which arouse forgiveness and/or extinguish wrath in the human heart and mind.