Since I was 14 I’ve practiced ritual magic. It’s a beautiful art. And, honestly? I’m pretty damn good at it.
When I say Lúnasa Days is about a young man who cast spells for a living, it’s not entirely fiction. I’ve been that man. The story isn’t autobiographical… but it could have been.
The problem I ran into as a magician-for-hire was crazy people. There are lots of normal people who’d like magic in their life, but also some unbalanced ones. Maybe they’re deluded about what magic can and cannot do, or maybe they have clearly non-magical problems (schizophrenia? epilepsy?) that they blame on demons.
Either way, it’s no fun being the one to tell them no.
For a long time I stopped offering my services. But the truth is I love working magic. It’s one of the few things—like writing, or the sea—that really energizes me. I wanted to start again, but avoid the cray cray.
So I made art.
I founded altmagic, my digital atelier where I sell artwork based on traditional magical sigils. Each piece is enchanted with real spells. The result is something that looks good on the wall and also—if you believe in that stuff—works its magic for you.
It gives me a lot of control over the process and, being online, an automatic buffer from unwanted customers.
Of course, I’m not sure I believe in that stuff. I’ve lost any faith in the supernatural. At the same time, my experiences with magic leave me convinced it tends to work.
Some experiences are so intense that it’s like touching prana with your bare hands. It makes me think it’s real all over again.
Most of the time I remind myself that it’s psychogical: the rituals, the symbols and—in this case—the artwork lead to changes in our behavior and outlook. In turn, lives change.
So now I’m a skeptical magician. I’m not sure that even my familiar spirits are real, yet I enchant with them anyway and I keep getting results.
Today is digital Monday: the day most people goof off at work and do some online shopping. If you want to see my work, support a self-employed artist and add magic to your life, please take a look at altmagic.
Magic spells make a great addition to anyone’s life, and they also make unforgettable presents. Consider giving one as a gift this holiday season.
What do you guys think?
Drew Jacob, Rogue Priest
November 26th, 2012 at 8:24 am
I’m always intrigued by the aspect of “believing it’s real” in these kinds of things.
“Most of the time I remind myself that it’s psychogical”
If someone is healed by “the placebo effect” then they are still healed. If you want to call it a placebo, or just the power behind human perception/belief; the effect is the same. And of course, some call that magic.
It’s just my viewpoint, but I would say Life, and everything we perceive is psychological: the table of this desk is just a bunch of energy making up atoms. But I experience a solid table. In my culture, the sky is blue. In others, it is green. Colour is something created only in the human mind. It’s an absence of other wavelengths of light – not an actual THING.
In this way, if someone believes magic might possibly be real (and thus does things just in case) it is real for them. They have created it – just as the idea of a table or a colour; it is real purely because it has been created by one person.
I’m not sure I’m being very clear, and this is all just my opinion. but based on my experiences, if something is experienced or thought of or exists as an idea; it exists and is thus “real” enough to affect others.
November 26th, 2012 at 10:50 am
Very true Rose. And it’s worth noting it goes far beyond the placebo effect, and comprises several psychological mechanisms besides that. You might enjoy my altmagic article, Three Magic Spells That Work, if you haven’t already seen it.
This also runs into the most frustrating part of expressing my skepticism/faithlessness to faithful people. Often they feel I’m saying their experience isn’t real. That isn’t true. It is a valid and meaningful experience whether it refers to objective spirits or subjective phenomena. The difference is that if we accurately define which one it is, we have a better indication of what we can expect it (magic, spirituality) to succeed in doing for us. In turn, we get more out of it.
November 27th, 2012 at 11:27 am
Perhaps magic is not only affected by, but reliant on, the observer effect. I look forward to the day scientists can explain how the effect operates and I sincerely hope it happens in my lifetime. Imagine the possibilities, magical and spiritual as you said, arising from THAT understanding!
As for me, I have no god, but that doesn’t stop me from experiencing profound wonder. I find it all over the place. ;)
November 27th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Profound wonder is perhaps the greatest experience.
I find it all over the place too Mercy. Do you see it only in the big and grand things of the universe, or also in the everyday? (I suspect both, but I don’t want to put words in your mouth.)
November 27th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Drew:
Could you give some specific examples of how you commonly use magic and find it helpful.
John
November 27th, 2012 at 11:57 am
I’m happy to, John. But I wonder what kind of examples you’re looking for? Knowing that you’re a skeptic, I assume you are asking for examples of “wow, this magic worked so dramatically and clearly that I use it as proof for why magic works!” and not just “here is how I use magic in my everyday life.”
Is that correct?
November 27th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Actually no I’m not asking the question so much as a skeptic as someone just interested in the practice. So the second question “How do you use magic in your everyday life?” is the one that interests me.
On a side note, I’ve considered similar practices myself but I found that they actually cause more anxiety in me than when I don’t use them. At least part of the it as I understand it is to reduce anxiety. Have you dealt with anything like that?
November 27th, 2012 at 12:08 pm
That should say: “part of the point”
November 27th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Oh that makes perfect sense John.
I would divide the results of magic into three loose categories.
(1) The fun of magic itself. I love the process of ritual and enchanting, and many people love having items that have been ritually enchanted. It is an art form, and like any art form, certain people are drawn to being involved in it. Having magic in my life has been a positive thing.
(2) Vivid mystical experiences. The experiences I’ve had during magical practices, such as communing with spirits, handling energy, glimpsing into distant places, leaving my body and gaining important insights have all been not only positive, but overwhelmingly profound. I’ve come to accept that I can’t take these experiences as proof of objective reality (i.e. there may not be spirits, energy, etc.) but I still value the experience and the deep peace it gives me.
(3) The practical effects. One of the first spells I ever cast (seemed to) help me get a date with a girl I liked. Money charms (seem to) contribute to increasing my income. My familiar (seems to) give me advice that leads me to better outcomes and helps me avoid bad ones. Supernatural claims aside, I can say at least this much about magic: It never hurts and it might well help.
So that’s why I love magic. As far as how I use it on a daily basis, that’s changed a lot. At one time I only used magic when I had a specific purpose in mind. Lately I enchant a lot more. I like to have a stock of charms to give away to people I meet.
Many mornings, not every morning, after I make my daily offerings I will begin casting spells. Often this is preceded or followed by a period of working on artwork for altmagic. I tangibly feel the spirits around me and accept their advice as I work on the individual spells and charms.
I work in a very hands-on and open way with my spirits. Unike in Western ceremonial magic I don’t seek to control or dominate them. They are friends and mentors, and sometimes, work partners.
I haven’t experienced anxiety from magic except in certain contexts. For instance, I often struggle with whether I should believe what I feel or whether it’s just in my head. I’ve mostly let this go as irrelevant as long as I’m honest about my doubt. So it doesn’t stress me much.
When I first started as a teenager I would feel a certain amount of anxiety about whether the spell would work. I’d be on the edge of my seat. Two things have helped me get over that. One is the common rule among magicians that once you cast a spell you should put it out of your mind and give it as little thought as possible. I find that helpful. The other is seeing that I am generally very happy with the results of a spell so there really isn’t much to worry about.
But that’s me. I’d love to know what kind of anxiety you felt. Where did it come from? Was it about whether the spell would work, or about something else?
November 28th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
I think my anxiety was an extension of the desire to control. I considered magical practice to control events in my life over which I had little control, but when I considered a magical practice to help, my anxiety level went up. To be fair, I never went through with the ritual, so I don’t know if it would ultimately have lessened my anxiety. Your practice seems a little less about control. Is this why you use the word “enchant”?
November 30th, 2012 at 1:29 am
I’d be interested to see how you felt if you actually conducted ritual.
As for the word enchant… to me it’s just a cool verb. “To magic” or “to cast a spell” doesn’t sound as good as “to enchant.” It is the active verb of making happen the magic :)
November 30th, 2012 at 7:56 am
“I’d be interested to see how you felt if you actually conducted ritual.”
Me too. I’m considering trying it.
November 30th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Cool! Just a suggestion, but you might enjoy starting with my ritual for gaining a familiar spirit. I wrote it up in a series of posts that start here. The reason I suggest it is partly because I just think it’s cool, but also partly because it might involve less anxiety than a purpose-based ritual where you try to control an issue in your life. So it could be a good start.
November 28th, 2012 at 3:36 am
What is your personal definition of magic?
November 28th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
The use of ritual to cause something to happen.
November 29th, 2012 at 12:25 am
I can dig it! Do you do lessons? If so I might have to buy a money charm to be able to afford them ;)
November 29th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
Dave, I definitely recommend a Money Spell panel ($54) to anyone. I keep one of these hanging on my wall above where I do all my work and I truly believe it increases my income. It helps me work harder, be more creative and more ambitious as I work. The result is that I make more money with my writing, freelance clients and artwork.
There are also money spell cards you can carry in your pocket. Both the cards and the panels can be found here.
I do offer training. I can do a one-off consultation to help get you started, or a series of classes to teach you step by step. Email me at drew@roguepriest.net if you want to talk about it and see what would work.
No matter what, I wish you well in your magical practice. It’s a beautiful art and a powerful tool.
December 2nd, 2012 at 2:22 am
Let me get back to you on that actually. End of the semester and I’ve got 7 bucks in the bank and I want food. :)
December 2nd, 2012 at 9:26 am
I understand completely :)
By the way Dave, your beautiful comment from a few posts back has now been quoted or referred to both in my latest post and in a post on John Halstead’s website.
December 2nd, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Ah, thank you. And yes I saw that. I already replied to John’s post and I will do so on your latest post as well.
November 29th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
[...] The issue of magic came up in the comments following a recent post about being embarrassed by some parts of Paganism. This is also a topic that Drew Jacob has taken up on his site Rogue Priest. [...]
December 1st, 2012 at 1:18 pm
:D