Is magic real?

Question

Referring to witchcraft and Pagan related magic.

Do any modern day religions believe in magic?

And if they do, what does it usually involve? Is it like potions and spells and such or something different?

What is "magick" and how is it different?

Answer 1

Witchcraft today may be seen as the sum total of all a Witch's practices, including but not limited to: spell casting, divination ("fortune telling"), meditation, herbalism, ritual and ritual drama, singing and dancing to raise energy, healing, clairvoyance and other psychism, creative mythology, and more.

Today, a Witch is a woman or man who practices a life-affirming, Earth- and nature-oriented religion, honoring Divinity in female as well as (or instead of) male aspects, and practicing Magic (which some Witches spell "magick," to distinguish it from stage illusions). There are many different traditions of Witches, encompassing many beliefs in addition to these. Some traditions are practiced by women only, and recognize only the Divine Feminine, the Goddess. Others include men and recognize a male god in addition to the Goddess. Some traditions may date back to before the Spanish Inquisition, others have been in existence for only a few years. The strength of the Witches' religion (also called "the Craft" or "Wicca") lies in its diversity; it is a living, growing religious tradition.

As a religion, the Craft is a revival and/or reconstruction of the pre-Christian religions of Europe, especially Northern Europe (giving us Celtic or Norse traditions), sometimes elsewhere (giving us Greco-Roman, Egyptian, or Levantine traditions). Many of us have turned for inspiration to the still-living indigenous traditions of other lands, such as Australia, Asia, India, and the Americas. Some of us , recognizing that we are American Witches, work with deities and land-spirits of local Amerindian tribes, though we do not claim to be members of any Amerindian tradition. As Margot Adler, a Witchcraft authority, has written, "The real tradition of the Craft is creativity."

Answer 2

Many NeoPagan religions are modern (as in the woriginated in the 20th century), and they do accept the existence and possibility of magic. Ceremonial magic, still practiced today, is frequently intimately entwined with religion (often Judeo-Christian).

Magic has a very wide range of definitions. "Spellcraft" is the sort of sterotypical type of magic, which may involve potions, chants, etc but can also be very simplistic. Many people who do energy working consider that a part of magic. That's largely consentration and visutalization. Religious actions in some NeoPagan religions are often considered magical such as the casting of the circle and consecrating of an area.

People add a "k" for a variety of reasons. Seriously, some people just think it looks cool. (Some people go even farther and just start adding letters: majik, majic, magik, majique) Crowley added it to differentiate real magic from stage magic, and also to fit the word better into his numerological systems. He also had a very specific definition for magick: creating change in conformity with Will. This did not have to be a mystical or supernatural event: any change conforming to ones True Will was magick. Plenty of "real magicians" (i.e. not stage magicians) continue to use the standard spelling of magic.

Answer 3

Magick and magic - the same thing, just with fancy spelling for those who cannot tell the difference between energy use and guys like Chriss Angell.

Modern day religions believe in magic, except they rephrase it as miracles. Magic is used by anyone and everyone who chooses to tap into the energy around them and make use of it.

Even ministers and priests do this - ever been to a sermon/ceremony done by a minister or priest who really, truly belives what he or she is saying and projects that out? Who truly believes in the love of god and wants to share that with everyone? The feeling of peace in your heart, your mind after attending such a ceremony is palpable- even if you are not yourself a religious believer.

Some folks go for the whole ritual and ceremony, using potions and spells and herbs and so forth. Others don't see or feel a need to use any of those things - they just manipulate the energy around them.

Answer 4

Yes.

Catholicism - Masses are thier
High Ceremony, they light candles
and pray to images of saints to
request help or boons.

Ceremonial Magiciand - includes
Ordo Templi Orientis, Hermetic
Order of the Golden Dawn, and others.
Use a rather complex and rigid
protocol in ceremonial structure.

"Amalgums" = I create this
category for "amalgums" or blends
of native religious systems and
"foreign" ones. This includes
Voodoo, Santeria, and other Latin
American systems formed with the
intro of both Catholicism and
Aftrician to their geographic
sometime after Columbus made
landfall. I know the Voudoun
tend to make use of potions, etc
but I have little data on the
others.

Hinduism - Has large compositions
of both High and Low Ceremonial
activity and practice (you can
check out quite a bit by doing
further research on "gurus", "sages",
"ayurveda", and "bramins").
Primary method seems to be tonal
(mantras).

Native American - Shamanism (aka:
"medicine men"). Some tribes (such
as those living around the 3 Mesas
area in Ariz) will allow non-native
personnel to enter the reservations
during religious festivals and take
pictures during religious ceremonies.
Ceremonies may be performed to
relieve a variety of stresses on the
community, and involve elaborate
(and sanctified) costume as well as
chanting, drumming, and dancing.

Taoism = Still practiced in parts of
Asia. Appears to involve a complex
system of visualization and meditation.
Public ceremonies were originally
introduced (Han Period?) to protect
and nurture the communities, and used
a number of theatrical 'props' mixed
with the actual ceremonial procedure
to allow the local Taoist Master to
"guide" the village into that particular
"state" and results sought for.

In regard to the spelling: It is my
understanding that Aliester Crowley
began that form (using the "K") in an
effort to avoid confusion between
in the "average reader's mind" between
ceremonial magic (supposedly used for
affecting the mundane world via
paranormal means) and stage magic.

Please bear in mind that one of the main
purposes of Ceremony is to achieve
Contact with the God or Goddess of your
particular world-view. The other being
that it is to request assistance for correcting
a stressful situation (such as back in the
"dawn of time" when one would routinely find oneself stuck out in a cold, strange, and possibly hostile environment and in
need of food, clothing, and/or shelter).

Answer 5

magic dealing with potions and chemicals are all included in old days of chemistry called alchemy,at that days, some say,magic is done when some changes of one matter to another occurs,but those explainations have no Scientific bases. but they don't know that it was because of the reactions of different kinds of chemicals. Today many magic are performed as form of entertainment because most people are amazed when they see mind boggling effects , but still those are just tricks. i don't think Magic is real... but sometimes Science, together with our new technologies can make it real.

Answer 6

magick is very real. I'm a Celtic Pagan Witch. I practice mainly kitchen(hearth) and green magick.

Answer 7

Ethan - "I want to believe"
You ask!
I answer!

*Magic - When the hand is quicker than the eye.
*Illusion - When the mind is quicker than the eye.
Both are practiced today, and should not be used for material gain.

Miracles emanate from the Creator, this is a secret that is for "Wisdom" to discern.

Answer 8

Well to FBI it is just a cult terorist.
If their is magic in real life then the FBI will lose job that is why they dont like wise guy?

Answer 9

There are those who do belive in Black magic, witchcraft and curses and spells. The practices are evry real, because there is Both Evil and Good spirirts, spirirts From God and spirirts form the deciever (satan). The BIble says that we should avoid these practices, becasue they open oursevles up for attack by demonic forces, we should be prepared to avoid it all all cost. The BIble says that we do not fight against flesh and blood but spirirts and principalities and spirirts of the air.
There is good news and bad news, God will one day deal with all Evil, when he brings forth every thing into Judgement, the Bible says every secret sin and every thought word and deed wil be given account. even our idle words will be brought into acount. If we have broken His Law, Lied, stolen, looked with lust, used his name in vain or broken any of His commandments, we are hopelessly seperated from HIm now through eternity. the BIble says the speeration we expereicne in eternity is hell, its not just seperation But its punishment for the fact we have sinned against such a God of Holiness. But heres the Good news, God sent his son jesus Christ too suffer and die and take the punishment in your place, we broke Gods Law and jesus took the Judgement appointed too you and I and every man. "when Christ hung and bled and died it was God saying too the world, I love you."- Billy Graham. so Now in order to recive the gift of everlasting life you and I must confes and forsake our sins and trust in jesus, hes the one who so graciously died for us. when we confess and turn too Christ were saved eternally and have everlasting life and not even the most evil of spirirts or spells can snatch us form his hand.
God bless

Answer 10

Yes it is real. It is also wicked and evil. It does not matter if it is white or black or good or bad. It is all evil and white and good only appear good on the outside but are wicked on the inside at the core.

It comes from the pits of hell and is Satanic and disgusting abomination in God's eyes.

All who practice witchcraft and Satanism and magic will perish in the Lake of Fire.

Unless they REPENT, RENOUNCE, and TURN to Jesus.