This presentation wasn't easy - like trying to pack an elephant into an 8 ounce can, so we will explore only magic as practiced today in North America and the British Isles.
The largest contingent practicing Magic calls themselves Witches, but when I use the word "Witch" here, it also includes Warlocks, Sorcerers, Wizards, Magicians, Magi, Pagans, Druids, and other titles. Functionally, their Magics are all too alike to treat separately.
Among all these groups, regardless of path, the basic theories and methods are remarkably similar. Any practitioner can easily understand the methods of any other practitioner. It's not like religion at all.
The 21st Century is "A Time of the Witches". They abound, from Aesthetic Witches who just like the look, costumes, bling, and play-acting, to very serious practitioners on a variety of paths. In the top ranks are teachers and healers. Many Witches of all types are refugees from the Evangelical churches, and other restrictive forms of Christianity.
Witchcraft and Magic today are composed of many past and recent influences, so we'll first look at those. Over the centuries there have been two parallel paths of Magic, Formal Ceremonial Magic, and Folk Magic. Until the 20th century there was no significant crossover between the two.
The Witchcraft of the Witch Trials was entirely fiction, made up during the trials. A major reference was a book detailing large witch trials in Italy. That book has proven to be entirely fiction. Those trials never happened.
From the Renaissance to the 20th century, Ceremonial Magic was carried on by the Hermetic Orders. These Secret Societies promised a path, through organized teachings and a hierarchy, to achieve a higher state of being. Research grants weren't needed, as these orders belonged to the upper classes. They also functioned as men's clubs where nobles and wealthy merchants plotted taking over the world. Kings were uncomfortable with them, and the Church declared them Demonic.
The last Hermetic Order was the Golden Dawn, established in 1887 to teach Hermetic Qabalah, astrology, occult tarot, geomancy, and alchemy, all within a strict hierarchy. By this time hieroglyphics had been translated, so a good dose of Egyptian religion, symbology, and costuming was incorporated.
Alister Crowley, a controversial figure, left the Golden Dawn for other adventures. In 1907 he and some others from the Golden Dawn established their own Order. The Order's name is not pronounceable, but the system they created is called "Thelema".
Thelema uses a lot from the Golden Dawn, and is very heavy on the Egyptian, but is not a Secret Society. It was explained profusely in Crowley's many books. Thelema is still active today. It was strongly promoted by Jack Parsons and his wife. Jack was founder of JPL and Aerojet.
The core of Thelema is to find your True Will, and act upon it. This is not the will of the ego, but the Will that is your purpose for being in this world, the lessons you are here to learn. This has been deliberately misconstrued by many, especially the Churches.
So, how then does Magic work at all? - First we look at theory, then practice.
Magic likewise holds that there is a realm of reality that cannot be seen by physical means, a Liminal realm between the physical world and the Other Worlds. Some Witches call it "the Hedge", and describe themselves as "Hedge Witches.
Neither the Quantum nor Magical concepts are in some other place - we are immersed in them and they permeate us. Whether distance is a characteristic of this realm is currently unknown, but communication that is distant to us seems to be instantaneous, like quantum entanglement is.
Science cannot define what consciousness is. I have a new book (copyright 2025), that's a compendium of current scientific theories of consciousness. It states, on the first page, that science can't define consciousness, so the theories analyze how the complexity of the brain supports consciousness. Some scientists are starting to consider that perhaps it is consciousness that creates complexity.
Our Consciousness clearly operates in the physical world through our bodies. We can see and feel that. Magic holds that, not being physical, consciousness also has agency in the Liminal realm.
Does this Liminal realm exist? I have had at least 8 experiences that strongly suggest it does, including 3 that bend coincidence far beyond the breaking point. Many people have similar experiences, but most suppress them or try to explain them away. Besides, how can you be "Spiritual" without a place for Spirits?
Covens were an invention of the Witch Trials. Witches of the past were solitary practitioners, as most Witches are today, but Witches today are not so isolated. They attend big conventions where they exchange ideas, attend classes, and buy witchy things. Many have friends with similar interests - and, there's also that Internet thing.
There are plenty of brilliant teachers and writers in the field of Magic today. So, are these the people you go to to learn how to cast spells?
Well, not right off. The top teachers emphasize working with the inner self, organizing, developing power, problem solving, and learning to work with the energy of the Liminal.
Some things the best teachers emphasize are:
Exploring the Liminal is like a walk in the wilderness. Bright flowers, mighty trees, birds, butterflies, and cute bunnies - and bears, wolves, cougars, and snakes.
The first teaching is usually Grounding and Centering. Grounding is reinforcing your energy flow into the earth. Centering is getting your own internal energy in order so it's not scattered and vulnerable.
Next is Shielding and Warding. Shielding is creating a protective wall against unwanted influences. Warding is making yourself look dangerous. Both Shielding and Warding are commonly done for places as well as people.
Then meditation, trance, dreaming, and the relationship of the body with the flow of Liminal energy. A few short spells are often provided to help you with this internal work, and other tools are discussed.
Symbols are the tools of magic. Even the basic physical tools, the Wand, Sword, Cup, Pentacle, Candles, and Incense are really symbols for complex concepts. Concepts, being immaterial, work on and with consciousness.
Words are powerful for explaining complex concepts, but cumbersome for magical workings. Symbols can represent phrases, paragraphs, or even chapters at a glance. For this there are systems of taking a concept you wish to work with and distilling it into a symbolic image called a sigil.
A sigil may be just a simple pattern of lines, or it can be very artistically drawn, depending on the practitioner. Essential is that it conveys a concept with just a glance, by eye, or in your mind. It will be meaningless to others unless explained.
Once you're working with the basics and have set up your altar, you should have a pretty good idea of how to make up spells and how they work. While not strictly necessary, candles, potions, incense, and other tools can really assist in keeping your attention focused.
Spells can be aimed at many things, improving your life situation, relating with spirits and deities, and healing yourself or others, even at a distance if necessary. They can also be used for hexing and cursing, but take care, those practices can come back at you.
Some people equate spellcasting with prayer. They are actually much different. With prayer you ask some entity to take charge of the situation. If that entity doesn't agree, or is busy right now, you're up the creek without a paddle.
When casting a spell, you are announcing that you are fully in charge. That spell may, or may not, ask assistance from some entity, but if that entity declines, you still have a firm grip on the paddle and your own energy to apply.
You don't try to use magic to do things you can do physically - but it can assist that work, increasing the odds. Spells affect yourself, and can affect others through the Liminal. People with no concept of magic still have consciousness that touches the Liminal, and can be influenced through it. That's how Magick gets things done in the physical world.
When composing spells you must think very hard about what could go wrong. The goal must be very specific, but how that goal is achieved must be fairly loose. It is said that magic always seeks the path of least resistance.
Then there's that old cliché of summoning Demons to do you bidding. That's not much done today. Demons don't like that, and it'll likely not end well for you.
Thank you. I can take questions, now or during the social time.
Decades ago, I studied the ceremonial magic of the Golden Dawn and Thelema, but, unlike Jack Parsons. I never actually participated in it. I've recently spent considerable time studying magic as it is practiced today. I have the tools, the knowledge, and have done basic orientation, but I haven't been much into casting spells, because I haven't had the need.
I am a largely Non-theist Pagan, but have invited several Goddesses into my
household: Hekate, Aset, Nebet-het, and Freya, who has branched out from her
Scandinavian roots - note her very India style pose and Japanese
companion (Shinto I presume). It's all good - Vedic Hinduism originated
from the same Proto Indo-European root as Scandinavian Paganism.
Andrew Grygus