Magick is causing a change in the world via means not currently explained by science.
TL;DR;
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As mages, witches, and occultists, we tend to instinctively understand what we mean when we use this term. Rarely do we stop long enough to formulate a useful definition. Sometimes, people opt out of thinking about it too hard and throw out platitudes like, “Everything is magick!” That’s cute… But not very useful.
It’s useful to have a working definition, especially when you are talking to someone outside the practice. The definition should be broad enough to include most, if not all, the practices from all of the world’s varied traditions, while, at the same time, excluding things that do not often fall under this term (no matter how “woke” or “enlightened” one may seem by including them).
What to include and what to exclude in the definiton
Some of the examples that should be included:
- Spell casting with physical ingredients (like in traditional witchcraft, Wicca, Hoodoo and other traditions)
- Ceremonies and Rituals (Ceremonial magick)
- Magick that does not include ingredients.
- Divination
- Working with deities
- Working with spirits
Stuff that should be excluded:
- Stage magic
- Fantasy/fictional magick
- Things that fall into existing, well-known sciences like chemistry, physics, psychology (to some extent), electronics, etc.
- Religion (some aspects of)
So what is magick, really?
The following definition does a good job of meeting these criteria: Magick is causing a change in the world via means not currently explained by science.
Other definitions of magick
Perhaps the most famous definition is one that Aleister Crowley proposed: “the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will,” (1)
Dion Fortune has expanded upon Crowley’s definition: “Magick is the art of causing changes in consciousness in conformity with the Will” (2)
Both of the above definitions are a little too broad.
Historically, what is considered magick, witchcraft, and sorcery has been a very fluid thing. Curing ailments using herbs used to be considered witchcraft. Combining chemical substances to produce new substances used to be alchemy. Now that science has explained how different chemicals in the herbs impact the body, and how chemical reactions, this aspect of witchcraft is now considered science. As science explains more and more things, our understanding of the occult will shift.
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