Update!

Following Beltaine, I will be updating the material posted. I also would like a bit of user input. I have three questions. Your replies would be immensely helpful in determining the next major topic that I address. Here are the questions for you to consider:

1. Should I do a detailed discussion of Elemental forces?
2. Should I discuss the construction, history, and use of ritual tools?
3.  Should I give a comparative discussion of the difference between Hard and Soft Polytheism?

Please post your choice in the comments by noting which question you support. Any additional questions or concerns would always be appreciated. This blog is as much about you as it is about me.

Blessings to you and yours.

Magical Studies: Phyisics of Magic I

* Note: This discussion is the author's personal theory. Others may have differing explanations. *

When one engages in spell craft, it is difficult sometimes to comprehend how it works. Much of the occult community focuses on 'cookbook' style magic, though they do not claim that they are ritualists.* The question of how magic works is often left deliberately unanswered or left the subject of vague assurances. Magic, like any other activity, is subject to the rules and laws of physics. We can not violate basic laws, such as the conservation of matter and energy, by way of magic. Before I discuss the physics of this, I must first address common misconceptions.

1. Creating Energy: The argument that a ritual is 'creating' energy is a false one. A ritual does not create energy as much as it reorders the energy in a given system to create a result. The energy that one taps for any ritual or magical undertaking is already present. You are simply rearranging it.

2. Three fold return means exact triplicate amount of energy returns: This is a fallacy built upon an incomplete assessment of the Law of Three. The Law of Three is a consideration of the chain of causality that results for a given action. It is most commonly interpreted as the first three steps of said chain. Some, however, interpret it as the first two steps plus an indeterminate reference to the continuing chain of causality. All actions are governed by simple causality and the related laws of physics.

3. If you believe hard enough, you can do anything: This is an incomplete statement. It is frequently taken as an assertion that with sufficient faith, once could violate the laws of physics. Faith is only a small measure of what is required for successful magical enterprise. Greater burden rests upon focused mental effort, where as faith is generally more of an emotional exercise. A disciplined mind will always have greater magical success the an undisciplined one.

4. Magic happens because the Gods will it: This is a variation of the third misconception. It could be taken as an argument that successful magic is ordained by the will of the Divine, but this fails to acknowledge that there are physical laws that govern how actions unfold. The system we operate in is built in such a fashion that the gravitational constant for Earth is always 32 feet per second, squared, for example. This could be taken as the Gods will that the gravitational constant is this or simply that it is part of the conditions that are present, regardless of the will of the Gods.

The only conditions where the theological discussion of magic is vaild are when we are discussing magic based in prayer or similar religious activity. This is a very specific subset of magic ruled by its own set of rules. The general rules of magic do apply as does the laws of physics. This will be addressed in its own post.


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* Ritualism is the excessive emphasis upon the actions and invocations, including but not limited to the props used for spell casting. This could potentially also include ritual forms of prayer.

Magical Studies: Theology II

If one casually glances through just about any modern text on witchcraft, you find reference to mythical beings. The mythical beings described by all cultures truly do exist in a spiritual sense. The universe is permeated with the spiritual essence of existence. This manifests in different ways for different people. As such, the same being that appears to one witch as a fairy, may appear to a Christian as an angel, or to another witch as a different mythological creature. Spiritual beings are possessed of intelligence and the ability to interact with the physical plane in a limited fashion.

The Veil is a subtle barrier between the physical world and the spiritual world. It is with focused effort that one who is in the physical world can interact with the spiritual world. This is true also for spiritual beings. The nature of spiritual beings is as diverse as that of physical life. Unlike some other religions, in my tradition of witchcraft, all things are imbued with a measure of spiritual life. (This is the animist aspect of the religion.) The presentation of the spiritual aspect is more fluid then of the physical because it is based more heavily in the energy side of the ledger*.

When one dies, the physical form and spiritual break contact. The process is not precisely understood. Many different theories abound as to how this works and what happens after it is complete. It is my understanding that when we die, we have the choice of where we can go in the spiritual realm. This need not be movement to a permanent abode. I do believe that reincarnation happens. I also believe that the spiritual realms that people describe such as Heaven or the Elysian Fields are real. A great deal of thought and spiritual effort went into the creation of these places in the spiritual realm.

It may be that the physical manifestation of their existence is in the vibrational echo left in the physical plane of existence from the thoughts of their existence, but it is sufficient to support the spiritual existence. Just as our homes are more present in the physical world then the spiritual, so too are these 'realms'.


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* Please note wave-particle duality of theoretical physics.

Magical Studies: Theology I

Theology is a branch of the philosophical school of metaphysics that concerns itself with the questions pertaining to deity. Most people are familiar with the idea of theological inquiry with in the context of Judeao-Christian thought. It is, however, a subject of serious consideration within the pagan world as well. Many authors have contributed an impressive amount to the body of literature focused upon this topic from various pagan perspectives.

A small list of classical questions considered in any theological discussion are:

• What is the nature of God/ess(s) (aka the Divine)?
• What is the relationship between the Divine and the Universe?
• What is the relationship between the Divine and humanity?
• What is the meaning of Suffering? Why does Suffering happen?
• What is the nature of Good?
• What is the nature of Evil?

Elements of these questions have been presaged by our earlier discussion of Cosmology*. As such, we focus strictly upon the questions above with respect to the Divine. If additional questions are of interest to any of you, my Dear Readers, please post them in the comments. I shall do my best to answer them or provide guidance in determining the answer for yourselves**.

What is the nature of the Divine?
The Divine is the spiritual consciousness of the Universe. It can be experienced as a singular entity or as an entire pantheon of entities. Either experience is valid, as this is revealed via personal gnosis. Those who do not experience the spiritual consciousness of the universe as an entity have their own unique personal gnosis of the Divine. This should not be discredited or scorned, for all personal gnosis is accurate for the facet of the Divine that the individual is aware of.

What is the relationship between the Divine and the Universe?
The Divine permeates the Universe, thus being panentheistic.  It also has the capacity to be transcendent of the physical Universe, thus allowing for the transpersonal deity that is so recognizable in the major forms of monotheism around the world. The Divine can also be understood to be an integral element of the Universe, inseparable and thus allowing for pantheism. All apparent contradiction between the different aspects of the Divine are resolved by the mystery of the Divine's nature, as revealed by personal gnosis.

What is the relationship between the Divine and humanity?
Humans are both dependent upon the Divine for their existence and separate from the Divine, existing upon their own merits*** . The nature of the relationship between the Divine and humanity is paradoxical. It is one that can not be described directly but only by way of figurative language. Much of the language used is logically absurd, this, however, is because of the inherent weaknesses in language to describe sensory information with great exactness.

The Divine, with its capacity for presenting as individual deities, additionally can have a personal relationship with a given human. This relationship is defined by the individual deity and the person involved with them, much like any other personal relationship.

What is the meaning of Suffering? Why does Suffering happen?
Suffering has no intrinsic meaning. Humans have the capacity to give meaning to suffering within the context of their lives and experiences. The same is true for deities which have suffered****. Suffering is a natural part of the process of being alive. It is a morally neutral event in itself.

What is the nature of Good?
The concept of good can be particularly thorny. The common use of the term describes that which is morally correct. The precept of proper relationship between humanity, itself, the Universe, and the Divine can be approximated by the code of Virtue. Thus, good can be considered a synonym for honorable or virtuous.

What is the nature of Evil?
Evil is understood as the opposite of good. One who is evil, disrespects life and is cavalier in their approach to bringing death to other life forms. They sow intentional and willful suffering amongst other life forms, suffering that is in excess of necessity. Those who are evil spread strife needlessly. They fail to act honorably and violate the natural rights of others*****.


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* Cosmology I and Cosmology II.

** A vast amount of the theology is build upon the unique relationship between the practitioner and the Divine. As such, there will be variations that come into play because of the differences in these individual relationships. What is presented here is to be considered a general guide and a reflection of my personal relationship with the Divine.

*** This can also hold true for all forms of life and spiritual beings.

**** It is possible to argue this can be the case with other lifeforms as well.

***** The natural rights of a person are:

• Self-determination and freedom of thought
• Freedom of expression
• To live without the will of another imposed upon them with out their consent
• To live without the actions of another imposing suffering upon them without their consent
• To interact with society at their own discretion and decision
• To defend themselves from others who intend them harm

Magical Studies: Cosmology II

In my previous post, I discussed the pertinent philosophical cosmological questions with respect to the Universe at large. By logical extension, we have now come to the personal cosmological questions. These questions are:

• What is the nature of my existence?
• What is the purpose of my existence?
• What is the purpose of consciousness?
• How do I relate to the Universe?

The answers for these questions are different for each person. I propose, however, that there are general answers that can be upheld for most people, despite their respective circumstances. As such, I humbly present the following for your consideration:

What is the nature of my existence?
The nature of the human existence is to be a finite physical being with a finite spiritual aspect. A great deal of overlap is between the spiritual and physical aspects. It is in this overlap that we have the 'mental' element of the human mind, including but not limited to our concept of self, emotions, and abstract thought.

What is the purpose of my existence?
The purpose of human existence is to exist and answer biological imperatives for the perpetuation/continuation of the species. Any additional elements are self directed, thus the purpose for one human's existence is different from the purpose of another human's.

What is the purpose of consciousness?
The purpose of consciousness is to experience existence. It is additionally, to process the experience and incorporate it into the evolving and fluid psyche/spirit of the conscious being. It is not my believe that consciousness is the sole domain of humans. It is my belief that such a line of reasoning is excessively anthropomorphic and grossly flawed.

How do I relate to the Universe?
Humanity is an integral part of the make up of the Universe. We are dependent upon it for our existence even as we are capable of experiencing a sense of independence from it. There are elements of the spiritual aspect of the Universe that are more primarily rooted in said aspect that can have a powerful corresponding influence upon the material aspect. These spiritual elements range in fortitude. The most powerful of them being deities. We have the capacity to interact with these spiritual aspects of the Universe by way of our own spiritual elements.

Magical Studies: Cosmology I

Cosmology has a few different meanings. While I adore physics and find the study of cosmology within that science to be purely a joyful academic exercise, in this blog entry, I am focusing upon the philosophical (specifically metaphysical school) study of cosmology. Within the school of metaphysics, as we look upon the matter of cosmology, there are a few basic questions that must be addressed. These questions are:

• What is the nature of the Universe?
• How did it come to exist?
• What is the Universe made of?
• How does it function?
• What is the purpose of the Universe?
• How do we know what we know of the Universe?

 In a related vein, we also have the questions pertaining to oneself that require to be addressed. These questions are:

• What is the nature of my existence?
• What is the purpose of my existence?
• What is the purpose of consciousness?
• How do I relate to the Universe?

Before we address the personal questions of existence, let us take a moment to look at the larger questions, of which these are a subset.

What is the nature of the Universe?
The Universe is a complex thing. Various different mythologies can be used to describe it. Ultimately, it is my understanding that the Universe is comprised of various elements that can be observed and interacted with by many different means. I believe that the Universe is an organic whole wherein all parts are interdependent upon the others for their existence and function. I believe that no two people will have identical experiences of the Universe due to the complexity of it.

How did it come to exist?
The physical aspects of the Universe came to exist via a method that is described by the standard cosmological theory.  The 'creation' event is a mystery and one that I do not believe we will ever fully comprehend. The spiritual aspects of the Universe came into existence with a parallel event. It is my understanding that this can be described in many different theological terms. All theological descriptions are allegorical of the initial event and I think that as such, all theological descriptions are valid. The World Tree and the Nine Worlds of the Teutonic peoples has equal place as the Judeo-Christian vision of the cosmos as the atheist's vision of the cosmos.

What is the Universe made of?
I briefly touched upon this in my response to the two earlier questions. Please, allow me to state it directly: the Universe is made of physical and spiritual elements. The physical elements can be understood, observed, and interacted with in accordance to what we know of the material world. The spiritual element is suffused through and incorporated into the physical elements. It is observable by subtle methods and can be interacted with by means of focused mental effort and the exercises that make up the core activities of spiritual behaviors as observed in a religious context and in occultism. This includes but is not limited to the various schools of magic practiced since antiquity.

What is the function of the Universe?
The function of the Universe is the same as the purpose of its existence. This is to simply exist. There is no vast, grand scheme behind the existence of it. It exists and self perpetuates. I do not believe that the Universe technically has a beginning (as all was present within the quantum singularity prior to the 'Big Bang') and that it will not have an ending (because this requires a violation of the first law of thermodynamics).

What is the purpose of the Universe?
See above.

How do we know what we know of the Universe?
All knowledge is based upon experience. We experience the Universe by way of our senses. It is my understanding that our senses are not limited to taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound. I believe that we also have spiritual cognates to these senses that can be experienced. It is due to a failure of our language (which is heavily biased towards the classical five senses) that we do not have adequate descriptions of these spiritual cognates. We learn and extrapolate information by way of incorporating details that we become aware of via experience (ie: we see to read a book). At the core of all the information gathering, however, our knowledge comes from experience. All experience is colored by our unique circumstances as a participant-observer of the Universe.

Virtues & Honor

One may ask what is virtue and how does one become known as honorable. Some may ask if honor has a place in today's world. I don't claim to know the role that these two things play in the lives of my peers. I only known how they are important to me and how they are reflected in my beliefs. Those who practice Asatru may recognize some of my code of behavior. Fellow Wiccans may find things that strike very close to their own personal codes of conduct. What I present to you is the synthesis of many years of research and searching. This is a living tradition, thus it will change and evolve as time progressed on.

Virtue is defined as moral excellence. To make sense of this term, let's take a moment to look at the word 'moral.' The first definition presented at Dictionary.com is the one that I am using here.

of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical [...]

Now, one may ask, how to you know what is right conduct? How does one distinguish between right and wrong? There is the oft quoted Wiccan Rede that many people use as their moral guide. I, however, have something more then the Rede. In no particular order, may I present to you what I like to call the code of virtue.

1. Treat all life respecfully.
2. Extend hospitality to all guests who come to you in a peacable manner.
3. Respect the hospitality of your hosts as you would that of a close kinsman.
4. Never initiate a fight, but always end them when they come to you.
5. Be thrifty and conserve your resources as best you may.
6. When among strangers, conduct your business in good faith and be respectful of their ways.
7. Honor yourself and maintain your health and good name as best you can.
8. Be truthful as often as possible. When not possible, state as little as possible. Silence is more honorable then a lie. A lie spoken under duress or in necessity, however, does not stain one's honor.
9. Stand on your own feet and do as much as you may under your own power. Asking for help is not shameful, but it should only be done in times of necessity.
10. Do not make idle boasts or oaths. Stay true to your word and carry out all oaths you have pledged yourself to.
11. Treat the gods and spirits with respect, even if they are not your own. There is power beyond human knowledge in them. It is better to have them as allies then foes.