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magick
Robert Todd Carroll
SkepDic.com
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magick
Magick is the alleged art and science of causing change in accordance with the will by
non-physical means.
Magick is associated with all kinds of paranormal and occult phenomena, including but not limited to: ESP, astral projection, psychic healing,
the cabala, and chakras. Magick uses
various symbols, such as the pentagram, as well as a variety
of symbolic ritual behaviors aimed at achieving powers which allow one to contravene the
laws of physics, chemistry, etc. Magick should not be confused with magic, which is the
art of conjuring and legerdemain.
The religions based on the Old and New Testaments have long associated magick with
false prophets, based upon the belief that Satan regularly
exhibits his powers to and shares them with humans.* Using powers which contravene natural
forces is good if done by or through God (white magick), according to this view. Such
exhibitions of divine power are called miracles. If done by
diabolical forces, it is evil (black magick).
The idea of being able to control such things as the weather or one's health by an act
of will is very appealing. So is the idea of being able to wreak havoc on one's enemies
without having to lift a finger: just think it and thy will will be done. Stories of
people with special powers are appealing, but for those contemplating becoming a
magus consider this warning from an authority on the subject:
...magick ritual (or any magick or occultism) is very dangerous for the mentally
unstable. If you should somehow 'get out too far', eat 'heavy foods' . . . and use your
religious background or old belief system for support. But remember too, that weird
experiences are not necessarily bad experiences.
[Phil
Hansford, Ceremonial Magick]
On the other hand, weird experiences are not necessarily good, either.
The magic of performing magicians is related to magick in that performers use tricks
and deception to make audiences think they have done things which, if real, would require
supernatural or paranormal powers, e.g., materializing objects such as rings or ashes,
doves or rabbits. Some magicians have attributed their feats not to magic but to
supernatural or paranormal powers, e.g., Sai Baba and Uri Geller.
Of course, the beauty and magic of nature has nothing to do with magick. There is the
magic of the birth of a healthy child; the magic of true love. There is the magic of
getting out of bed in the morning through an act of will. Unfortunately, this only seems
to be magic to those who do not have this power. Those of us who can direct our bodies
through acts of will too often take this power for granted. We fail to see the
wondrousness of simple things, like wiping the sweat from one's brow. We take for granted
the act of opening our eyes to feast on the sublimity of glaciers and oceans or the beauty
of sunsets or meadows of wild flowers. These are truly magical deeds and, when
contemplated, hold enough wonder to fill universes. But for many, it seems, such real magic
will never be enough.
See also miracle, Satan, sympathetic magic, true-believer syndrome, wicca, and
witch.
note: The word 'satan' means adversary in
Hebrew. But just as
the Hebrew word 'adam' (which means man in
Hebrew) has
become Adam, so too has satan become Satan.
further reading
Ceremonial Magick, copyrighted by Phil Hansford. It has 11 chapters on such subjects as astral
projection, esp and psi, chakras, the cabala, psychic healing, pentagrams, rituals, etc.
Jerry Andrus, a lifetime
of magic
Carus, Paul. The History of the Devil and the Idea of Evil
(Gramercy, 1996), reproduction of the original 1900
edition.
Lamont, Peter and Richard Wiseman. Magic in Theory (University of
Hertfordshire Press, 1999).
Randi,
James. The Magic World of the Amazing Randi (Adams
Media Corporation, 1989).
Sagan, Carl. The Demon-Haunted World - Science as a Candle in the Dark (New
York: Random House, 1995).
©copyright 2006
Robert Todd Carroll
magical thinking
Last
updated 12/03/07
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