Pagans, what is the source of magick?

Question

I was wondering whether Wiccans and other Neopagans have theories about the source of magical energies in the world, or whether it is considered something that cannot be explained.

As a secular humanist, I don't believe in magic, but I ask this out of genuine curiosity, not posturing so I can criticize your faith.

Answer 1

As a Wiccan, I was taught that the universe itself is the body of the God/dess, and therefore that all things are infused with Divine energy.

As a witch, I use the focus of my own will and sympathetic correspondences to lay my hands upon that universal energy which connects all things and thereby cause change in the world.

The source of magic is therefore a combination of one's own mind/willpower and the natural forces inherent in the basic structure of all that exists. These forces are divine in nature, so there's no question of appealing to Satan or any such Christian archetype.

Answer 2

I am not a Wiccan or Pagan, but I have studied Ceremonial Magick in the past (among other New Age disciplines). The source of Magick, it is stressed, is ritual which would usually include the constructing of an altar, arranging the tools of Magick upon it; the wand or sceptor, sword or dagger, challice or cup, and disc or coin, preferably inscribed with the pentacle, candles, and a censor of incense to represent the Quintessence would generally be the objects of choice. A repetitious chant would usually be employed to concentrate powers to the Magician's use. An example is:
"Holy art thou, Lord of the Universe;
Holy art thou, whom Nature hath not formed;
Holy art thou, the vast and the mightly one,
Lord of the Light and of the Darkness..."
Of course, Ceremonial Magick is very complex, and there are degrees of proficiency that are difficult to achieve, requiring tasks often known to be impossible (i.e., the "squaring ot the circle"), the objective being to reach levels of consciousness regarded as enlightened, as well as to utilize the powers of the Universe to one's favor...
The sort of Magick I am describing is undoubtedly what many would regard as Satanism or worse, and even Magicians warn against its misuse...
I never became deeply involved, and I do not particularly believe in it either at this juncture, although I do tend to think that, because the brain operates via electrical energy exchange, there is some truth to the concept of "mind over matter". At the turn of the twentieth century, when the Order of the Golden Dawn was enjoying its heyday, there were many erudite members of society who were members of its esoteric organization...

Answer 3

Ah, magick is the manipulation of energy.

You know. If I was here today mentally, I'd be able to tell you in depth.

I'll suggest books instead, forgive me.

"What the BLEEP do we know!?"
"The Science of the Craft" - ... some dude with the last name Keith
"Real Energy" - Isaac Bonewits

The first two books explain it in a way that it can apply to most all religions, but, Real Energy really gets into it, and describes it from a Physics point of view. I'd suggest you read them in the order I wrote them in, if you so pleased to, so as to be able to understand the terminology quicker.

A quick note on what the Gazoo guy said: Imagination is used in a way... to form the words and/or steps to a spell or ritual, if one so pleases to make one, and to thinking up correspondences for different things. (What fruits correspond to fertility if you want to get pregnant sorta thing)

Word to the wise: Don't not sleep for 3 days in a row.


- 16 yo Pagan

Answer 4

The Source of Magick is energy (such as many others are answering). There is matter and energy in the universe. Magick is the manipulation of energy to make changes to matter (or the material world). Ritual is our means, our methods of controlling that magick.

Really, I see it as no different than chemisty and physics. Manipulation of matter and energy. Ritual and methodology are the same. We've had centuries of scientific trial and error to develop laboratory procedures. Our rituals are what we have found work in varying circumstances. They're just different paths.

Answer 5

It's in the energy all around us. It's more at home in natural settings and some people believe that lights and technology and stuff dissipates it so that may be the reason you find so many practicers of magic out in nature. (Well that and who doesn't like to frolic around skyclad?)

Some places on Earth are stronger for these energies, the 'ley lines' or whatever you call them are real. I don't know their exact source but they have had a profound effect on me in my travels.

Blessings,
Zimmi

Answer 6

Magic comes from the Universe at large, which we put into motion by our intentions. Do you know of the book/DVD "The Secret"? What it talks about in that movie/book is what many pagans would call 'magic'. We are source of magick in our lives - our true beliefs and intentions call to us what we desire and manifests it in our lives...how we call those intentions to us differs from person to person.

Answer 7

I see it as a source of energy that everything has, based on our interconnectedness with everything in the universe, etc. that you can tap into if you're properly trained... hopefully to enact virtuous deeds and help people instead of using it to destroy and cause harm or prop up one's own self-cherishment. I don't believe there's any one "source" of such energy.

_()_

Answer 8

The source is the mind of the operator. Objects and symbols are just devices for aid in direction and measure.

Answer 9

We, all of us, are the source of magick. We raise the energy and direct it to our desired effect. The more focussed we are, and the more we are able to visualize our outcome, the more successful we will be at obtaining a desired result.

Answer 10

Imagination