Thread: Magic

Are you talking about magic as an illusion that people use for fun and entertainment? Or magic as in doing some vague ritual and hoping for random coincidences to favor you?

The first one I love, and I think magic is cool. The second I think are just what I said, random coincidences. I think people believe in magic for the same reasons they believe in things like praying. Which is that they falsely contribute random coincidence, to be a result of their direct actions.

Originally Posted by Alric

Are you talking about magic as an illusion that people use for fun and entertainment?

.. Or Magic the Gathering?

I'm talking about ritual magic. Not stage magic. If I were talking about stage magic, I'd probably post this somewhere other than Inner Sanctum.

I think that magic is awesome. Much like prayer, it depends on who's doing it, what they're doing it for and how it's done.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

I'm talking about ritual magic. Not stage magic. If I were talking about stage magic, I'd probably post this somewhere other than Inner Sanctum.

Then perhaps you should have used the archaic version of the word that occultists use which differentiates the two. Magick with a k

And I am a magician by the way

Magic works if you believe in it and you don't try to do something physically impossible. Just like prayer and that old fad, "the Secret", it relies on the power of positive thinking.

Originally Posted by cmind

Magic works if you believe in it and you don't try to do something physically impossible.

What is magic if not something that is physically impossible?

Originally Posted by mcwillis

Then perhaps you should have used the archaic version of the word that occultists use which differentiates the two. Magick with a k

And I am a magician by the way

Nah, sounds too nerdy

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

Nah, sounds too nerdy

I can't see why you think that. Each to their own I suppose. I could do a spell to change your mind. Only joking, I would never infringe your free will like that.

Originally Posted by mcwillis

I can't see why you think that. Each to their own I suppose. I could do a spell to change your mind. Only joking, I would never infringe your free will like that.

Because you couldn't. How long have you been studying "magick" and what do you study?

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

Because you couldn't. How long have you been studying "magick" and what do you study?

Yes I could. Ive been studying magick for thirty five years and been actively practicing for twenty five years. I have studied lots of systems of magick from many parts of the world and from different historical times. As an example I have been preparing a ritual to perform next week loosely based around a 17th century grimoire, 'Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis' or otherwise known as 'The Lesser Key of Solomon'

No, you could not. Nothing you do can directly counter the power of my freewill, except tricking me into thinking I am acting of my own free will when I'm not.

Anyways, would you care to show me some resources you favor?

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

No, you could not. Nothing you do can directly counter the power of my freewill, except tricking me into thinking I am acting of my own free will when I'm not.

I could make you change your mind, or as you put it, make you believe that you had come to a change in opinion all by yourself. I would have to spend an hour a day on the process and it shouldn't take longer than a week to complete. As I have said I would not do this to you. It is a technique I use on extremely rare occassions.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

Anyways, would you care to show me some resources you favor?

I would be glad too. Im rather busy today, but I will have a think about it and come back as magick is a very broad, deep and mysterious subject.

Over the weekend I will put together a ritual I have created myself. I will call the thread 'Mcwillis's awesome stop smoking spell - volunteers needed'

It would be interesting to see how well it works for people. It worked perfectly for me. I am sure there must be people here that would like to stop smoking but can't stop via will power or modern stop smoking aids.

and now as i wave my magic wand......poof!!: abiogenesis

ta-dah

Originally Posted by ♥Mark

What is magic if not something that is physically impossible?

You obviously don't know much about the subject. Most magic (magick) performed today is done with the intention of subtly manipulating events in the caster's favour, not making rabbits appear in hats.

Originally Posted by greenhavoc

and now as i wave my magic wand......poof!!: abiogenesis

ta-dah

Go away.

Originally Posted by mcwillis

Yes I could. Ive been studying magick for thirty five years and been actively practicing for twenty five years. I have studied lots of systems of magick from many parts of the world and from different historical times. As an example I have been preparing a ritual to perform next week loosely based around a 17th century grimoire, 'Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis' or otherwise known as 'The Lesser Key of Solomon'

Alrighty....
Studying unicorns for 1000 years wouldn't make them real.

To me, magic is only magic until it is understood. So if we ever got to the point of legit "Lord of the Rings" style magery and sorcery, it wouldn't really be magic to me... because we would be able to understand it and harness it.

Examples.
1) Fire was magical as hell. Until we figured it out.
2) Lightening? Spears of the freakin' Gods!! Until we figured it out.
3) Explosives. Back in their "early" days in the middle and far east people came up against an enemy that would toss clay pots at them that hissed and spat out smoke. When the pot crashed to the ground it broke and a deafening thunder-like sound came forth and fire spat out. That was pretty goddamn magical... until we figured it out.
4) Quantum Locking? Still blows my balls off... but it ain't magical.

Anyways, I could go on and on.

TLDR: I dunno if I "believe" in magic. Magic, whether it be High Fantasy or other, very well may exist. But the thing is, what people consider "Magic" changes from year to year.

Don't know if that answered the question... but yeah... there it is.

Edit: I've actually gotten myself wondering about things that were once considered magical or legendary, but have been studied and understood. If anyone has any cool examples please share!

Originally Posted by cmind

subtly manipulating events in the caster's favour

How, specifically? Sounds like you're saying that they cast spells that [somehow] slightly bend the will of the universe to work to their ends but unless there's an actual physical causal relationship between what they do and what happens then I would call that physically impossible, even if you would consider it subtle.

Originally Posted by ♥Mark

How, specifically? Sounds like you're saying that they cast spells that [somehow] slightly bend the will of the universe to work to their ends but unless there's an actual physical causal relationship between what they do and what happens then I would call that physically impossible, even if you would consider it subtle.

This, frankly, sounds like the rational materialist model grinding to a halt after running out of oil...

Originally Posted by PhilosopherStoned

This, frankly, sounds like the rational materialist model grinding to a halt after running out of oil...

No, it's just her lack of knowledge. Materialism, combined with mathematical chaos, can explain all the unintuitive events and synchronicities of day-to-day life. Chaos can turn small events into big events, like the addage of the butterfly's flapping wings causing a hurricane to form on the other side of the planet. Some people call this "magic", but I call it chaos. However, the point I've been trying to make is that magic CAN actually work if it makes use of the chaotic nature of the world, just as prayer can work, just as positive thinking can work, etc.

If you manipulate chaos to proceed in a certain fashion with a specific result it's hardly chaos, is it?

Originally Posted by ♥Mark

If you manipulate chaos to proceed in a certain fashion with a specific result it's hardly chaos, is it?

I doubt you know what I mean by the term "chaos". Can you tell me the 3 defining characteristics of a chaotic system?

Though I keep an open mind I am a little bit skeptical of "magick." I wouldn't say it's complete garbage and fake, but I wouldn't say it's definitively real either. But, if you want to practice it and it makes you happy, go for it. Just don't press your ideals on others. Same goes for those of you who think it's entirely false.