The Sphere of Influence
by Rev. Wharg0ul
(from the old OEF website)

The Power Of Magick
The power of magic is the power of will. But it's not so much that you are shaping reality with your will...it is more that you are shaping your perception. If enough people firmly believe without doubt that something exists, then it does. When someone realizes that something exists, it then does. Ever buy something you thought was unique, and then noticed that everyone already has one?? Ever learn a new word, and then noticed that everyone is using it? In your reality, these things DID NOT EXIST until you decided that they did. Each person has around themselves their own little sphere of influence. This is your world, your perception, your reality...and it is yours to change as you wish. Often, your little bubble over-laps and intermingles with someone else's...and their influence may interfere in your ability to hold your reality as you wish. This influence from others is what formed your perception of creation to begin with...as a baby, you had no opinions on how things should be, or knowledge of how things were. Other people influenced you to believe that things are how they are. Your whole reality is a mass of concepts and beliefs given to you by others, and sewn together by your own attempts to logically fit them all together.

This if of course why it would be so difficult to perform any really flashy or miraculous magical feat. If you were to try to change day into night at high noon, the influence of the people around you who "know" that that's just not possible would make it impossible. This is why subtlety and creativity, as well as patience, are so important. Dramatic results can only be achieved by slowly accomplishing many small steps. Or...by overpowering the will of the people around you. Some people have this talent...some ability to convince anyone anything. This is simply them overpowering another's will and forcing them to adapt to your reality. These are the people who are the trend setters, and the messiahs. The people who make society change in a visible rippling wave, who mold and change the world we live in in such subtle yet vulgar ways. Become one of these people...and change the world.