Magic(k), Spell(ing), Ethics
+ why I don't like Crowley
With the understanding of quantum physics, the illusions in childhood magic are simply distortions in the space time continuum.
Some practitioners add the "k" to magic to differentiate high magick or ceremonial magick from that of conference room gimmicks. There are some theories that adding the "k" transforms the numerology of the word to be more powerful.
In Magick tradition, our words are spells (as in - spelling) and our hands are wands. What I love most about magick having come from a dogmatic spiritual tradition is there are no necessities. It is you, the land and your intention. Perfection is not necessary - as you develop relationship with certain spirits, they are generally benevolent and generous and aren't rigid in their expectation.
If I do make a mistake in a magick practice, I will often poke fun at being in a carbon-based body and the limitations that creates. Spirits are most generous to our limitations.
Some Magick traditions require specific candles, specific herbs and specific incantations. We all find comfort and power in our own ways. Create your own practice by seeing what magick you already do in your life - do you light a candle when you're sad? Magick. Do you have a shower when you're overwhelmed? Magick.
A quintessential part of Magick practice is the threefold law. Basically that whatever energy we put out into the world will be returned to us threefold - for better or for worse.
For an ethical magick practitioner, sending curses is nonsensical because you are inviting that negative energy back to you three times over. We send mini-curses all the time when we wish ill of the person who cut us off in traffic, or invite misfortune to our ex-lover for how they wronged us. These mini-curses are "off the cuff" with cosmic consequences.
Magick also isn't just love and light either - people still cut witches off in traffic. We also don't have to attach your energetic signature to it or add to your karma.
What I do instead is say something like, "may your karma meet three times over". I am simply stating a cosmic fact (perhaps - ahem - speeding along the process) but I am not getting my energy entwined with theirs through anger. A friend of mine says something similar, "I hope you have as good of a day as you are". Depending on the person, it is a threat or an invitation.
Since our words are spells (as in - spelling), and spells have our energy attached to them, be conscious of the words you say - to both yourself and other people.
*I write more about that here:
Aleister Crowley is one of the most well-known magick practitioners, even being lauded with having created sex magick (he didn't). I have many thoughts & feelings about him and would love to hear your thoughts as well.
Aleister has a classic personality of sensationalism and wanting achievement but perhaps lacking the drive to complete his ambitions (a Libran Achilles). He started an intense year long black magick ritual summoning dark spirits and quit halfway through because he got bored. You do not start a ritual, certainly not a black magick one, without completion.
He advised Hitler during the second world war (yes, Hitler used magick in the war - that's actually why Churchill started using the peace sign with the middle and index finger, it is a magick symbol that wards off dark magick) and then, as he was squandering his money, switched sides near the end of the war to make more money.
I do not respect a facist practitioner who stands for nothing.
Even when Crowley and his wife went to Egypt, it was his wife that received a channeled message, not Crowley - my theory being his ego was far too engorged to be able to receive.
The only reason Crowley is well-known is because he violated his oath with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret magick society that mentored its initiates in the ways of magick. Not only did Crowley literally publish their material without their consent, he also bullied his way to the head position and the order imploded shortly thereafter.
Magick is written in code, hidden beneath symbols, because it is powerful. It is not meant to be gate kept but it is also not for everyone. It certainly should not accidentally be invoked (one of my pet peeves being the infantilization of Abracadabra - one of the most sacred incantations) so there are processes in place for people to learn with sacred guides.
I am all for the non-hoarding of knowledge but Crowley publishing sacred works, I believe, impacted the Satanic Panic felt globally years after his time.
All this to say, decide for yourself how you feel about him. Consider what you want to emulate from him and what ethics you want to integrate into your magick practice. Below are prompts to decide on your personal ethics in your spiritual practice to imbue your practice with authenticity and integrity (inner / outer alignment).
