Everything that is known to Magic in one book!
– Understand the role of chaos in the universe and how it relates to Magic.
– Learn about the different branches of Magic and how they can be applied in your life.
– Study the history of Magic and how it has been used throughout the ages.
– Discover the many different ways that Magic can be used to improve your life and the world around you.
Magic is an ancient word known for thousands of years. In Middle English, the earliest understanding originated in Oxford. Chaucer’s usage derived from French, borrowing Latin words with Greek origins to describe its adjective Magikos. Magikos, which means belonging (or pertaining) to an enchantment. The root of this word, however, wasn’t originally Greek. The word Magush comes from an old Iranian term meaning wise. The Greek noun Magos, which means wise man, arises as a contraction of this phrase. The thought that Magush, (an ancient Median word for king or ruler) may have been used to refer to people who were able to call upon their kings. Magos makes it into our English as the Mage, plural form being Magi. Mage in American English history is a classification of people who opposed slavery and oppression, often using magic as their means to fight back against those with power over them. These individuals included Native Americans like Chief Justice John Marshall Harlan II (who helped secure Dred Scott v. Sandford), African-Americans such as 19th-century adventurer “Black Beard” Robert, governor of Massachusetts William Phips, and philanthropist (the first black millionaire). Mage, linked with Magh, a Proto-Indo-European word that means “to be able” or “to have power. A further association with verbs such as “may,” “might,” and “machine” connects it to “ability” or “power.”
Working back to the word Magush, this referred to the Old Iranian Caste of Priest. It would be the original understanding of Greeks and Zoroastrians when referencing Persian Priests. Magush would later evolve into Magician instead of Priests. And so, magic comes into our English language as Christian Priest identified all other Priest Castes as Magicians and its many associated titles. Gnostics were considered magicians by the Christian church. They used their knowledge of secret rituals and ceremonies to form a syncretic religion that combined elements from several different faiths, including Judaism, Gnosticism, Christianity, and Mandeism wrapped up in its mystery teachings. The leader known as “the Magus” was instrumental in this blend – he fused all three into one ARGUMENTABLE system, with his followers being able to use whichever set them back on track should they need it most. The Protestants denunciated the Catholics because they were also called magicians. The title Magician is continuously used to undermine opposition and exploit religious tensions.
Magush and Magos, once referring to Zoroastrian Priest, are now called Mobad, a contraction of the word Magu-Pati. Magu-Pati is what we would consider Master Priests, and this word comes down through early Greece. We know that the early Magush Caste was from an older polytheistic tradition from the Eighth Century BCE and later merged into the monotheistic Zoroastrian faith. This Median Magush Caste spread throughout Iran. Magos, being a title given to the Zoroastrian Leader Zarathustra himself. Magi and Magush’s earliest inscriptions are in The Behistun, written by King Darius I, commonly known as Darius the Great. This Persian ruler served as the third King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 522 BCE until he died in 486 BCE. The inscription told a tale about ascending to the throne through a dream interpretation. It also depicted a deceitful Magush named Gaumata. Bardiya, a son of Cyrus the Great and the younger brother of Cambyses II (both Persian kings), either ruled the Achaemenid Empire for a few months in 522 BC or was impersonated by a magus called Gaumata.
From Rome, we have Magia, a Latin word meaning powerful magic. It’s an ancient religion that predates Catholicism and even Christianity itself. Still, it had such dark secrets within its rituals – some aimed at controlling people through ceremony or psychological manipulation like mind control. The authorities prohibited these rituals. The ancient Romans defined magic as dark and subversive. Magic was illegal if placed on others for malicious purposes, such as violence or theft. Many people in the period thought this type of “magic” worked through malevolence rather than superior supernatural powers like fortune telling, which did not become popular until centuries later when it became associated with wands. The earliest known evidence about how magicians were perceived comes from The Digestate Law, which discusses forbidding certain crimes using illusionist tricks. Later, Christian Leaders would proclaim that magic was a perversion of science and religion.
We also get the word “Magicus” from old Greek. Interestingly, this term was for someone who practices magic but originally grew from the Greeks’ belief in operating through mathematics and science rather than faith or spirituality. We get the word Magique from Old French, which means “mystery” or an enigma. Finally, coming to the English modern word Magic, sometimes spelled Magick. We define it as the application of beliefs, rituals, or actions employed in the idea that they can manipulate natural or supernatural beings and forces. It is a category into which various beliefs and practices are sometimes considered separate from religion and science.
Magic comes with a variety of practices and pathways for every individual. There are Burial Rituals and Ceremonies; Burial is one of the most ancient and ubiquitous human religious rituals. Burying our dead is found in every known culture, without exception. The earliest evidence for burial dates back to the Neanderthal era, some 60,000 years ago. Archaeologists have found animal antlers, tools, and floral arrangements placed alongside the deceased in these ancient graves. Our ancestors believed there was more to life than the physical world. They must have sensed the presence of other realms or dimensions and thought that the dead could be helped on their journey to these places by gifts from the living. Today, we may no longer believe in the same things as our Neanderthal ancestors, but we continue to bury our dead with many of the same items. In doing so, we remember that death is not the end but merely a transition to another realm.
Ritual Cannibalism is the consumption of another human’s body tissue, symbolically or literally. Throughout history, many cultures have engaged in cannibalism, including the Afro-Caribbeans, the Fore people of Papua New Guinea, the Māori of New Zealand, and the Aztecs and Tupinamba of South America. Cannibalism was practiced during periods of starvation, as a result of witchcraft accusations, and as part of religious or spiritual rituals. In some cases, such as those involving endo-cannibalism (the consumption of flesh from a member of one’s community), it may strengthen social bonds among a group. In other instances, such as exo-cannibalism (the consumption of flesh from outside one’s community), it may be an expression of power or aggression. Evidence suggests that cannibalism was practiced as early as 50,000 BCE by the Neanderthals. Neanderthal caves in Yugoslavia, Italy, and France show signs of this. Cro-Magnon shelters with cracked leg bones and skulls suggest cannibalism continued until 30,000 years ago. Though dating also indicates that it could have started even 100,000 years ago. Often seen as taboo, cannibalism has been ongoing throughout history. Understanding the reasons behind cannibalism is essential to understand the human experience better.
Animal Ritualism, now just called Animalism, is a term used to describe the close magical and religious ties of humans with animals. A close relationship between humans and animals, especially wild animals. Otherworldly and super worldly realms are also often involved in Animalism, such as placating and begging for forgiveness of the game. The practice of Animalism dates back to 17,000 BCE. Animalism originated in the Paleolithic era. Humans began forming close relationships with animals— recordings found in the cave art of shamanistic rituals. Maintained through activities such as animal worship, Animalism has many practices. Animalism is directly connected with animals and differs from the overall approach shamanism takes in its beliefs. It is also sometimes used as therapy to help people heal from trauma or connect with their animal instincts. Animalism spread to other cultures and became more standardized—many different cultures worldwide practice Animalism.
Spiritual Blessing Totems are integral to many Native American traditions but have been seen in many other cultures as far back as 12,000 BCE. Totems are an essential part of many ancient cultures. A totem can be a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol of a tribe, clan, family, or individual. Totems can take many different forms, but they all serve the same purpose: to offer power and wisdom to those who “communicate” with them. The word “totem” comes from the Ojibwe, meaning “to bind together.” Totems help to connect people with their ancestors and the natural world. Totems are guardians and protectors, called upon for help in times of need. Some Totems are more potent than others, and some are said to be able to cure illnesses or grant wishes. However, all Totems can offer guidance and insight. It is up to each individual to decide how they will communicate with their Totems. Some people build altars or shrines, while others keep their Totems close at hand. Regardless of how you connect with your Totems, they can offer a great source of strength and wisdom.
Shamanism is humanity’s most ancient spiritual practice. Shamanism derives from the Evenki word šaman, meaning “one who knows.” Shamanism refers to traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spirit world. Shamanism is the belief that everything in the universe is interconnected. Evolving and encompassing older views, Shamanism believes in totem animals, which have the power to help or harm humans. Shamans commune with these totems and call upon their ability to help those in need. Traditional healers believe that shamans can diagnose and treat illness by restoring balance to the soul. Shamanism has undergone a dramatic resurgence recently through contemporary spiritual healers and groups. The popularity of Shamanism has led to traditional healers adopting the term to describe their practices to outsiders. Shamanism has been around since 11,000BCE, making it one of humanity’s oldest spiritual traditions.
Prehistoric magic is a correspondence based on the idea that one can influence something based on its relationship or resemblance to another. As seen in cave paintings, these rituals seek to influence an outcome by replicating it through ceremonies – such as hunting and various forms of prosperity. We find this as early as 9,500 BCE. By performing a ritual, Prehistoric Man believed that his tribe was blessed with a good hunt since it provided food and capital. Other practices would also bring about fertility, rainfall, health, and success. Those who viewed paintings depicting abundant food and other signs of prosperity likely felt blessed with abundance. Many of these ancient forms of magic are still practiced worldwide.
Sympathetic magic is a type of magic based on the belief that if two things have been in contact with each other, they continue to act on each other even after the physical connection is lost. This type of magic is also known as contagion or imitative magic, and we see it prominent around 4,000 BCE. Mages first practiced sympathetic magic in ancient Babylonian and Egyptian cultures. One of the most famous examples of sympathetic magic is the Egyptian practice of mummification. The Egyptians believed that by preserving a person’s body after death, they would be able to maintain the person’s soul as well. As a result, mummification became a vital part of the Egyptian funerary rites. Sympathetic magic continued throughout the medieval and early modern periods. Only during the Age of Enlightenment did sympathetic magic fall out of favor among intellectuals. Sympathetic magic was an evolution of Prehistoric Magic found in most cultures worldwide. Contact or Contagion magical thinking is the premise that there is a direct link between two objects or people who have come into contact with each other. Egyptians used this type of magic extensively in folk medicine and potions, as well as in love spells and curse-breaking rituals. Sympathetic magic continued throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, often alongside Christian beliefs. Today, sympathetic magic exists in many cultures worldwide, albeit in more modern forms such as voodoo dolls and Feng Shui.
I present a structure only for our understanding. These belief systems only represent our current evolution that sporadically peaked from as far back as 150,000 BCE until now. They can look very different from earlier civilizations before this, for we were guided and influenced in very different ways. I will attempt to relate to earlier societies. However, I do so through conscious realizations, for we have little physical evidence, and intense opposing energies still seek to hinder this wisdom from surfacing. Magic only develops in consideration of the only Beings capable of manifesting, which are us. Remnants of these beliefs, on occasion, are still scattered across our planet as we marvel at them and are oblivious of their truths.
Magic has always been; even in our current world of religions and technologies, magic is simply this same ancient force moving us forward. Pagan beliefs and motifs influenced religious beginnings before the formal composition of these beliefs. New belief structures merged with old, such as ceremonies, rites, and religious leaders from the past. Doing this made it easier for pagans to transition to Christianity. Additionally, Pagan practices and history were intentionally not recorded to make it more difficult for Paganism to return. Destroying all records was a common practice at the time and helped to solidify Christianity as the dominant religion.
Simply lighting a candle is a re-manufacturing of magic called Fire Calling. Fire has been a part of human life for hundreds of thousands of years. Evidence of controlled fire dates back to Israel almost 800,000 years ago. The first form of movable fire was by Ancient Egyptians, who made rush lights and torches. They soaked the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat. Ancient Romans didn’t develop the first wicked candles until around 3,000 BC. Today, candles are still widely used to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. In addition to their decorative value, candles have several practical applications, such as providing light during power outages or helping mask unpleasant smells. Candles are essential to life, whether you’re using them to add a touch of ambiance to your home or need a reliable light source.
The most potent form of magic is Prayer. Praying is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate an intentional connection to some greater power in the universe through deliberate, purposeful practice. There are many types of prayer: individual, communal, public, and private. There may be words, songs, or complete silence involved. An individual may pray through a hymn, an incantation, a formal creed, or a spontaneous utterance. The different forms of prayer are petitionary prayer, prayers of supplication, thanksgiving, and worship/praise. People may direct prayer towards a deity, spirit, deceased person, or lofty idea to worship, request guidance, assistance, confess sins or express one’s thoughts and emotions. Thus, people pray for many reasons, such as personal benefit or the sake of others. Yet it is, in essence, the evolution of all past beliefs in this current stage. As one seeks to beseech more extraordinary powers to influence change, we give such control over to something greater than us. If this greater power should choose, it does so through our commitment and belief in them alone, making our power the valid reason for this effect. Merging these different forms of prayers came with it the connection to various forms of more extraordinary powers, thus keeping their influence in our lives.
Symbols are a part of human culture, serving as a way to communicate ideas and emotions that Beings cannot express in words. They are often deeply rooted in our subconscious, evoking powerful emotions and memories. Symbols are everywhere in all aspects of our lives, from art and literature to religion and politics. They stimulate our imagination and enable us to access depths of meaning that would otherwise be inaccessible. In a world that is rational and materialistic, symbols provide a vital link to the mystical and spiritual aspects of our existence. Symbols predate our current evolution as well. Symbols are an essential part of human culture, playing a vital role in our ability to express the inexpressible. By their very nature, they resist easy definitions or explanations. But that is precisely what makes them so intriguing and essential to our lives. They offer a glimpse into the mystery of existence, inviting us to explore the hidden depths of our being. Symbolism is a very ancient art and solely depends upon its creator, even as the generations continue to utilize them with no knowledge of their accurate representations.
The Ritual process is an integral part of many cultures and helps to give clients a sense of identity and order. It can also clarify values and offer opportunities to face personal challenges with community support. Rituals often involve ritualism and ceremonies, which creates a space between ordinary reality and altered states of awareness. This trans-personal space can offer an opportunity for transformation. Humans can also use rituals to help clients access hidden parts of themselves, promote healing, and connect with the spiritual world.
Moreover, ritualism can help to clarify our values and offer opportunities to face our challenges with community support. Beyond simply providing a space between ordinary reality and altered states of awareness, a ritual can offer a transformative experience that helps us to become our best selves. For these reasons, tradition plays a vital role in many cultures worldwide. Ritualism plays a crucial role in magic, adhering to specific processes such as astrological charts and refraining from actions before the ritual. The origination of these acts must be realized, and not just followed.
These beliefs only represent a fraction of the magic currently in our world. There is something powerful and intoxicating about being part of a community that shares your thoughts. Even today, in an increasingly individualistic world, the lure of belonging to a group remains strong. And, as we now know, groups can wield tremendous power. Consider, for example, the power of religious groups. Religion has shaped human behavior for centuries. Even in our increasingly secular age, religious groups greatly influence their members. But it’s not just religious groups that can be powerfully influential; any group that shares a set of beliefs can profoundly affect its members. Nowadays, all sorts of groups – political, economic, social, and more – compete for our allegiance. This competition is only getting more intense. We can not be oblivious to the power of groups. We need to be aware of their influence on us and ensure we don’t allow ourselves to follow blindly. Only then can we indeed be free individuals.
Within these groups, we can genuinely realize the magic they wield. But it is also a way that we can truly understand where their intentions lie. To amass millions of followers and say that world peace is the goal, yet not having a single manifestation of this directs us towards truth. This breakdown becomes apparent in factions of the groups wanting change so badly that they take aggressive actions that often become detrimental to what they view as an opposition. The Leaders of these groups will very rarely direct these actions nor condemn them, for to do so would take from them the energies they utilize for their true intentions. The true strength of many organizations is the number of followers. More than just monetary compensations, many of these beliefs, when adhered to, give to those that created this power. Many hardcore followers equate these Leaders as directly a source of their faith. Some Leaders may not initially realize this, but those who do, take full advantage as they play out our most ancient dance as we feed off each other’s powers to create. Leaders are the primary influence of an organization. Many contributing factors to these groups not manifesting what they say they want. Internal powers attempting to rise within and alter their following beliefs, the original growth founded on unknown “other powers” that can influence them, and masses evolving to new consciousness who no longer give to the group-created powers are just other examples.
I have placed magic into three categories so that we can unify our understanding. To help us move past our definitions of magic and evolve consciously, I would like to call magic Power Working now. Physical Power Working refers to the many beliefs that pertain to action in the material universe. These are the practical exercises we perform intending to gain results. These are considered actions we do unknowingly, such as fasting before surgery or even circumcision, for there are many actions we take on with little critique as it is generally acceptable normality. My goal is to help us realize these actions and bring them to a complete understanding of our self-growth.
Mental Power Working I have yet to discuss. It is seen through any form of psionic abilities and generally relates to psychic powers. Psionics was a proposed discipline that applied engineering principles to studying and employing paranormal or psychic phenomena, such as telepathy and psychokinesis, precognition and remote viewing, and retrocognition. These are solely mind-related powers, and generally, many beings possess a combination of them without gaining a realization of them. Psionics looks into discovering how to read, control, and train these abilities in individuals as well as using devices that can amplify or measure psychic activity. Though there is no distinct Psionic power, Psionicists often refer to any ability achieved through Psionics as a Psionic ability. Remote Viewing is an example of a Psionic ability where the Psychic uses their mind to see people or places while they are not physically present. Another ability would be Psychokinesis which is the Psionic ability to move objects with the power of the mind alone. Psionics has yet to be recognized as an official science. Still, there are Psionic training programs available for those who want to learn more about their abilities and how to control them. We await what the future holds for this fascinating area of study.
Lastly, there is Spiritual Power Working, a state in our evolution where minimal effort is needed. The universe manifests all things for prosperity. Such powers of manifestation are hard to contemplate, for being within the physical realm, prosperity only equates to the material. On the deepest levels, we can not fathom a universe that is intrinsically connected to us. There is a multitude of factors always moving about which determine our outcomes. We typically block, destroy, or redirect this energy through our concepts. Spiritual Power Working would be active participation, witnessing these strings of manifestation, and fully accepting what may come to you regardless of the results. The highest level of this development has such complete faith in consciousness that it isn’t even a form of contemplation. Though I rarely see this in Greater Beings, they are already in the highest development, and beyond considering to contemplate it, it is never verbally expressed. Manufactured within the most profound people of faith, yet when consciously viewing them, you will see the conflict they hide from those incapable of seeing.
Throughout history, magic has been defined in many different ways. Some see it as a way to control the natural world, while others see it as just connecting with the spiritual world. I hope I have given you something new to contemplate about magic. Magic is an incredibly complex topic, and many secrets remain hidden. However, I believe that by understanding magic, we can help to strengthen our connection with the natural and spiritual worlds. If this has piqued your interest and given you new information about magic, then I am blessed. As I like to say on my Youtube Channel, I am taking on everything in the universe and making it understandable to Collective Consciousness.
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