… about Magic

The Mathematical (quantitative) and Scientific study and teachings of both the Mogur (Shaman, Sorcerer) and Magus (Priest) of the natural forces and humanity’s relationship (qualitative) to them.

The living force or process of nature that interpenetrates the relationships of both existence and nonexistence. Some say that Magic is the Mind or Word of God, as it creatively interpenetrates the Universe.

Employment of Daimonic (Otherworldly) Energies in using one natural law as a loophole to another, thus bending the forces of nature and fortune to our benefit.

The apparent ability to generate miracles by the conscious will and creative relationship of the prepared mind within the natural world.

In its uncorrupted form, Magic claims to be a practical, intellectual, highly individualistic science; working towards the end of enlarging the sphere on which the human will can work, and obtaining experimental knowledge of planes of being usually regarded as transcendental. [Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism, p. 152].

Magic is without morals in the same way that water and wind are amoral. They do what they do without regard for the consequences. Like any natural force harnessed by humans Magic does good or ill because of the choices we make. This is why those of us who have a relationship with Magic emphasize education and experience to supplement instinct and imagination.

In the Keys of Solomon and in Hoodoo, they have defined Black Magic as “Magic generated from and used for hateful and harmful ends.” In Egypt, where the Black soil is valued above all others as the best, Black Magic was creative, and bent Fortunes favors our way. Satanism defines Black Magic as “Magic performed to stimulate or manipulate the known universe, or the members within Her.” More particularly, this will in Satanism is manifested as first an acceptance of how the world is, then maneuvering it into how we would like it to be.

A few Pagans think of Magic through color. Some tend to think through intent. Some practice “Green” Magic when they are communing for the good of nature or when bending Fortune’s favors our way; red magic for passions; yellow magic for wisdom. Others scale the whole rainbow, doing what they feel best at the time. More often, you will hear most protest the modifier of color with the word Magic, feeling it removes something from His grander. The First Church of Satan disfavors the term “Black Magic” feeling it is somehow prejudicial and limits the mind of the Sorcerer.

I guess I haven’t really answered your question, have I? Personally, I do, as a way of stimulating the Black Flame of personal evolution, or plowing the fields of fortune in hopes of some return, in motivating some soul into a better frame of mind, or to help them just go away and leave all the good folk of my community alone. Now, ask other Pagans and Satanists that question, and you are likely to get very different answers.

A spell is a story told to find a desired state of being. The story may be a short, simple, silly little poem, such as:

  Money, money come to me;
      Quickly, quickly, set me free.

Or, it may be as epic as Beowulf, Faust, or Amaterasu Omikami. Sometimes, Magic only requires that we have a different perspective. We may want love. Well, Magic may open our eyes to that person who is especially helpful, and likes to talk, and is readily available. Yet, we have never really noticed this person, until …. Well, this is only a small example.

Spells are different from Prayers in that Prayers are attempts at direct communication with a god, demon, or ancestor. Spells can range from attempts to change one’s charisma to calling for rain when there hasn’t been any for months and the crops are parching in the ground. They may even require some measure of Drama, such as actually traveling to the Cave of the Fire god to plea for the release of the Rain god. There might be some overlap between the two, such as that plea being itself considered a prayer. And I have heard some prayers that would do well as very well told stories.

Why, yes, it can. Because the Witch starts Magic as a mental art, the Witch will begin with the person who wants to be loved. So often, the soul looking to oblige another to fall in love with them in this way feels unworthy of getting love the natural, truly Magical way. They already have a low sense of self-esteem, and do not have the strength to correct that. The Sorceress who is worth her salt will in the least provide some sort of charm as a crutch to help them help themselves. Better would be the spells (stories), enchantments (stories sung), or other actions that help the person gain the strength for genuine self-esteem and worth. Then, armed with that, they will attract the love of their life with little difficulty.

The other side of this question would pose an ethical situation that few Sorceresses should like to get entangled in. If a person wishes to employ Magic to force another to fall in love … or rather in lust … then the issues related to rape should be considered. Such rites of passion are crimes whether they employ Magic or not. Forcing another to fall in love this way will not address the need for love, and will only increase your feelings of worthlessness. And what about respect? This is a major component at the heart of love. I know of none who can force respect from someone else without terrorizing them. And is that really respect? Or simple, unadulterated, fear?

Love gives birth to love, and is aborted if coerced or forced in any way. If you are unwilling or unable to love yourself, or to address other people (even yourself for that matter) as genuine people deserving of human, divine dignity, what would you expect from someone you have demanded love from? And if you are having sex with someone, even yourself, and cannot be fully engaged in the person you are with, you are using that person in a fetish. If there is a person whose love you would have, learn to be real, to love yourself, and to love others. All of that takes risk. Then again, nothing is more appealing to people than courage.

Bitchcraft is one of the most sublime forms of nonviolent social resistance. The purpose of any social resistance is to get those who are in power to remember their responsibilities to all persons within their care, not just those who have power and privilege because of an accident of birth. Unlike other forms of nonviolent social resistance — which can guide and incorporate this in its guide book — Bitchcraft takes a subtler position. In essence, it is a deeper form of diplomacy, in that it gets the target to do what you want him to do in such a way that they think the idea was entirely theirs. This form of Magic takes great care and intelligence; without such, it could violate the soul of the target and do them great injury. Think of the Tai-chi master whose movements simply employ the assailant’s actions against him. Each takes great skill, Dharma (strength and depth of character), courage, and respect for one’s assailant as a human. PS: Do not try nonviolent social resistance if you are afraid to die. A lot of people die in such movements before we have spilled enough blood to revive the conscience of the powers that be.

Truth be known, equality in our society (Western) really does go to the highest bidder. There are some people who must work twice as hard to get half as far as others whose accomplishments come by virtue of their gender and the color of their skin. Is that right? One need only review the history of the Supreme Court to see that right is not always allowed in the answer. Don’t believe me? Why did it take over a hundred years after the ratification of the 13^th and 14^th amendments for African-Americans to gain the rights those articles guaranteed them? And by extension, Women fought for those same rights. And wouldn’t the Draft have been a violation of those same articles? And who usually gets caught in these drafts? Are they not the exploitable, the impoverished, the folk we as a nation spend the least amount to educate? One might also survey the history of the Labor Unions to see how difficult it has been for the exploited to just feed themselves, much less their families.

In such a society Bitchcraft provides the necessary leverage for a person who is not a WASP male with a lot of money to get the respect they should not fight for. Basically, Bitchcraft employs physical assets, superior intelligence, and the Magic of psychology to get another to want to do your will. The Sorceress must be something of a lycanthrope, with the ability to change her ego to fit the needs of her target, while keeping her fundamental self intact. Really, it isn’t what you will do that will influence your target; it is what they think you will do. Traditionally, women have been best suited to Bitchcraft, because men want what they have. In these days where sexual identity has blurred, and women are more liberated, and sometimes a man really does want a man, The limits of who can put Bitchcraft to use is not so clear anymore.

In the final analysis Bitchcraft is about respect. “Respect based on accomplishment can only be given by those who are humble, wise, and themselves worthy of respect. From those who have achieved little or nothing and are ego-starved and insecure, respect can only be gained through fear [Anton LaVey, The Satanic Witch].”