Each culture, race, and religion seems to have its own view as to how, and why, magick works. This section provides a brief discussion of the major theories of the current age, and endeavors to place each theory within its appropriate cultural or racial context.
There are those who believe that the nature of magick is fixed, and its effects are pre-determined based upon a specific combination of words, physical movements, and material paraphenalia. These three components must always be used in the same way to create the same spell effect. Different words or different material components will therefore create different spell effects. Those who subscribe to this theory of magic believe that there are only so many different types of effects that can be created through the various combinations of the three types of components (verbal, somatic, and material). Classical magick and some types of divine magick fit into this category.
A second classification of magick is based upon the idea that magick is only limited by the imagination and willpower of the caster. Those who subscribe to this theory believe that magick is infinitesimal and the effects that can be created with it are endless. However, man, and by extension all mortals, seek to put boundaries upon magick in order to codify it and try to understand it. These limitations often take the form of rules, regulations, and even religious restrictions on the use of magick. People who follow Classical magick, therefore, do so because that is how they were taught to practice magick by their masters, who learned from their masters, and so on. In order to experience the fullness that magick has to offer, however, one must open one's mind, body, and soul to the power of magick and let it flow through him rather than following restrictive rituals or specific ceremonies. People who are thought to cast through innate ability as well as some of the more primitive divine casters belong to this second category.
Subsegments of these two broad classifications include the following. These subsegments are not mutually exclusive and in fact overlap quite extensively.
Casting via training and study also includes a special class of spellcasters who are able to create entrancing spell effects through song, chanting, or other types of performances such as dancing or playing musical instruments. These types of casters devote hours of study and practice to specific performances in order to learn how best to use these performances to create magical effects.
* Inherent. Some people appear to have the natural born ability to cast spells without training or study. These people are usually feared or misunderstood and often become outcasts. Many people believe that those who have an innate ability to cast spells are touched by demons or other powerful creatures. History has recorded many powerful ruling and noble houses create legends around their sorcerous ability, claiming descent from powerful bloodlines of gods and devils. Others believe that Inherent magick might be caused by being born as the offspring of one who was classically trained in the study of magick.
* Creatures and Spirits. Obviously, there is some merit to the idea that certain non-humanoid creatures have the ability to create magical effects. However, the vast majority of people believe these to be merely fanciful tales. Not only do most people discount the idea of creatures casting spells, but they also tend to discount the existence of such creatures to begin with. Powerful magical creatures such as dragons are now thought to be nothing more than myth and legend. Others believe that dragons and other powerful magical spirits did
