Unlock the Power Within: A Beginner’s Guide to Harnessing Magick

Photos by Jem

Magick, a term often shrouded in mystery and misconception, is a powerful tool. We believe it is one that can unlock the hidden potential within you. All one has to do is remain open to the mystical. So whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just curious, this beginner’s guide to using magick will take you on a transformative journey, empowering you to harness the ancient wisdom of magick and apply it to your daily life.

In this article, we’ll explore the captivating world of magick, delving into its history, understanding its core concepts, and uncovering the myriad benefits it can offer. We’ll dispel common myths and misconceptions, equipping you with the knowledge and confidence to embark on your own magickal odyssey. Welcome to this beginner’s guide to using magick.

Understanding the Concept of Magick

For us, magick is “the philosophy and art of affecting intended change through an unseen cause”.  It is a holistic approach to life, one that recognises the interconnectedness of all things and the potential to shape our reality through conscious intention.

Magick, for us, is not about supernatural or supernatural phenomena, but rather an understanding of how the mind works in context to our experiences, our spiritual beliefs and our abilities to change and grow. We call this humanistic magick because it utilises psychology and counselling techniques against a backdrop of magickal expression. It is a practise that empowers you to tap into the innate power within, harnessing it to manifest your desires, enhance your wellbeing, and create positive change in your life.

The History of Magick

The history of magick is a rich tapestry, woven with the wisdom of ancient civilisations, spiritual traditions, and esoteric practises. From the mystical rituals of the ancient Egyptians to the ceremonial magick of the Western occult, the roots of magick run deep and have been found in all human cultures.

Over the centuries, magick has evolved and adapted, reflecting the diverse cultural and spiritual influences that have shaped its development. Today, magick is a vibrant and dynamic field, with practitioners from all walks of life exploring its transformative potential.

A Beginner’s Guide to Different Types of Magickal Practises

Magick encompasses a wide range of practises, each with its own unique focus and approach. Some of the most common types of magick include:

Ceremonial magick: A highly structured and ritualised form of magick, often involving the use of elaborate tools, symbols, and invocations.

Folk magick: A form of magick that incorporates the natural world and is more intuitive. 

Astral magick: Is centred on astrology in order to work out the perfect time to cast spells, or make talismans, all in accordance with the planets and the phases of the moon. 

Chaos magick: A more fluid and experimental approach to magick, emphasising personal gnosis and the power of belief.

Sympathetic magick: Magick that involves correspondences and belief that one thing can influence something else based on the relationship or resemblance.

Humanistic magick: A form of magick that incorporates the theories of humanistic psychologists with magickal expression for healing.  

Black and White magick are concepts we don’t want to perpetuate. However, these are terms you may come across on the Internet from time to time, and these terms are trying to draw a distinction between magick for good and magick for ‘evil’.

Regardless of the specific tradition, all forms of magick share a common goal: to empower the individual and facilitate positive transformation.

Benefits of Using Magick

Incorporating magick into your life can offer a multitude of benefits, both tangible and intangible. Some of the key advantages for beginners when using magick include:

Personal Empowerment: Magick helps you tap into your inner strength, fostering a deeper sense of self-awareness and control over your life.

Manifestation and Goal Attainment: Magick can be a powerful tool for manifesting your desires, whether it’s a new job, a healthier relationship, or a more prosperous financial future.

Spiritual Growth: Engaging in magickal practises can deepen your connection to the divine, the natural world, and your own spiritual essence, which leads to…

Improved Wellbeing: Magick can be a valuable tool for promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being, helping to reduce stress, enhance creativity, and cultivate a greater sense of balance.

Transformation and Healing: We advocate for humanistic magick as a tool that can facilitate profound personal transformation and healing, enabling you to release limiting beliefs, overcome challenges, and embrace a more fulfilling path.

Common Misconceptions about Magick

Despite its growing popularity, magick is still shrouded in misconceptions and misunderstandings. For example, there continues to be dogma purporting that magick is inherently dangerous and for controlling others. We argue that magick is simply another spiritual belief system, and is not in and of itself dangerous. Authentic magickal practise is not about manipulating or controlling others, but rather about empowering oneself and creating positive change in one’s own life.

Another misconception is that magick is only for the chosen few who are ‘born into the life’. Whilst magick as a concept is not the exclusive domain of a select group, beginners (when using magick for the first time) must always remain culturally aware and respectful of certain practises because some practises (for very good reasons) are not for wider use.

Some people may believe that magick is somehow a substitute for having to do the hard work, or that it simply doesn’t work because it is incompatible with science. Humanistic magick is not a shortcut to success or a replacement for diligent effort; it is a tool that can enhance and complement your hard work and dedication towards personal growth and change. 

Magick may not be the hard science that clinical psychologists and many who find hard, repeatable, testable outcomes enjoyable, but that’s ok. In our Magick Discovered course, we do make links between researchers such as David Kertzer who defines ritual as “an action wrapped in a web of symbolism”, in order to broaden what ritual means and Cristine H. Legare and André L. Souza whose meta-analysis into studies about rituals shows that the repetition of procedures, and the presence of religious icons, does affect how people evaluate ritual efficacy. Which for us, means that magick doesn’t have to be sciencey for it to be a repeatable process that people believe works. 

Beginner’s Guide To Using Magick

If you’re new to the world of magick, the prospect of diving in can be both exciting and overwhelming. Here is a brief beginner’s guide to using magick:

Embrace an Open and Curious Mindset: Approach magick with a beginner’s mind, ready to learn, explore, and adapt your practises as you grow.

Educate Yourself: Immerse yourself in the rich history and diverse traditions of magick. Read books, attend workshops, and connect with experienced practitioners to deepen your understanding and respect for magick.

Develop a Spiritual Practise: Perhaps this involves those magickal rituals we mentioned earlier, or perhaps it is about establishing a regular meditation or contemplation routine to cultivate inner stillness and connection to the divine. Choose a practise that aligns with your personal goals and values and gradually build your confidence and experience.

Honour Your Unique Path: Recognise that your magickal expression is yours alone. Avoid comparing yourself to others and trust your intuition to guide you.

Tools for Practising Magick

As you embark on your magickal journey, you’ll discover a vast array of tools are recommended to support your practise. Some of the most common and useful may include items such as candles and other tools that can enhance the potency and focus of your rituals. You may also wish to incorporate the energetic properties of certain plants, herbs, and essential oils to amplify the effectiveness of your magickal workings.

However, and perhaps something that makes our beginner’s guide to using magick different, we say that you can choose to ignore all that, because the only powerful tool you will need is a belief in yourself. The rest of the items are included to give your transformational journey magickal expression and support the efficacy of it. So, approach the use of magickal tools with reverence and respect, and let your intuition guide you in selecting the resources that resonate most with your personal practise.

Incorporating Magick into Daily Life

Magickal expression can be a quiet practise. We would say to beginners that magick is so much more than a series of rituals or spells, and it’s a way of life that can be woven into the fabric of your daily existence. By integrating magickal principles and practises into your routines and habits, you can cultivate a deeper sense of purpose, connection, and personal empowerment. This is important in humanistic magick because this allows us to grow, and attain self-actualisation. 

Incorporating magick into your daily life is pretty simple and can begin with cultivating a regular practise of mindfulness or meditation in order to enhance your focus, intuition, and energetic awareness. You can also connect daily meditation with gratitude practise and affirmations. These simple techniques when woven into your daily routine can encourage small, positive, changes that allow you to move towards your goals. 

By seamlessly integrating these easy, magickal expressions into your daily life, you’ll cultivate a deeper sense of purpose, personal empowerment, and connection to the greater mysteries of the universe.

Embracing the Power Within Through Magick

As you’ve started to discover throughout this beginner’s guide to using magick, the practise of magick is more than casting spells. It can be used for a profound and transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment. By unlocking the power within, you can manifest your deepest desires, enhance your wellbeing, and create positive change in your life.

Remember, with so many different types of magick your magickal journey is a deeply personal one. You can build a daily practise that is as intuitive as you want it to be, and let the power of magick guide you towards a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

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