Magic
Without Maddness
July 28, 2009
While
scientists tend to deny the possibility or viability of magic…
dear kindred,
…
even while their theories increasingly demonstrate how it works,
religionists usually accept the reality of magic while, most often,
denouncing its use by anyone but their god/s, saints or prophets.
The mythology that attends these beliefs tells us that one may use
magic, perhaps even gaining fame, fortune and sensual fulfillment
but in time one will always have to pay the price when the devil
calls in his marker or the magic rebounds on one.
Take for instance, the movie Covenant (which we like quite a bit)
about a group of prep school boys who have inherited magic, and
well as great wealth obtained by magic, from their families. They
can use the magic, but the more they do so the more they grow older,
so that our hero’s father is a 40 something year old man who
looks and acts like he’s 120 because of all the magic he has
done. Despite this fact, at the end of the movie we see our hero,
having just conquered the villain, replace his broken windshield
with a wave of his hand, because apparently, despite his enormous
bank account he can’t be troubled to take it to an auto shop.
Justine Larbalestier’s novel Magic or Madness (which we enjoyed
greatly) has a similar theme, using magic ages those who have the
power, on the other hand, failure to use it brings madness. This
is an interesting and tantalizing dilemma for a novel but fortunately
does not convey the reality of magic.
The truth is that magic, when done properly, is rather like a good
work out. It may seem temporarily tiring but in the long run one
is both better and stronger for having done it and quite often the
mere act of doing it is exhilarating, rather like the “rush”
an athlete gets from running.
What do we mean by the magic being done properly? We mean that it
is done with creative and beneficial intention. It is important
that our magic be ever a source of beauty and healing. Unlike many
Alice Bailey students of the Great White Lodge, we are not of the
opinion that magic can only be safely done when performed in the
service of others and of the “Masters”. It is only natural
that people should do their magic first and foremost for their own
benefit: the Spirits help those who help thems’elves!, however,
it is important that we do not use our magic to harm or interfere
with others.
Because we are connected to the all of life, all that we do rebounds
on us. If we do magic for our own benefit alone, that benefit will
nonetheless be extended to others. On the other hand, if we seek
to interfere and harm others, that will also come back to us. Do
magic to harm others is like getting our work out by beating people
up. Such magic simply creates resistance that will in time surely
undo us.
To do magic for ours’elves alone is not wrong but it is wisely
still and more productive if all our magics consider the greater
good as well, for as we become more and more aware of the greater
realm of spirits, those spirits also become increasingly acquainted
with us. As we assume responsibility for all our people we increase
in both wisdom and power and take our place among those who have
shaped the evolution of wee folk who have had the joy and privilege
to call ours’elves elves.
Ver
nesidas mellun vari te (In shimmering starlight ever be),
The Silver Elves
