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Magick is not available only to a few talented individuals born with special gifts. It can belearned and mastered to a great degree by anyonewith self-discipline and persistence.Magick does not reside in ritual tools—amulets, magickal swords, etc.—unless and untilthey are charged by a magickian. The skill andpower lie always in the person, not in the tool.Magick does not generally result in spectacular "special effects" on the material plane:strange entities materializing, showers of goldfalling from the sky, locked doors bursting asunder, etc., etc. Dramatic physical effects are possible and occasionally occur; but most magick aimsat internal growth, where results are harder to see.Even magick for material-plane ends tends tomanifest in more or less quiet, gradual, naturalways.And magick is not easy to learn or topractice. It is not an "instant fix" for life's problems, nor a short-cut to fame and wealth. It is a setof specialized tools, uniquely well-designed forinner growth and spiritual development. It can beused for more ordinary purposes, but sometimesthat is like trying to pound nails with ascrewdriver. Magick can be used to bring yousafety, wealth or loving relationships, but it is nota substitute for wearing a seat belt, getting a job,or being sensitive to your lover's needs. And nomatter what it's used for, magick requires hardwork and discipline.3

What Magick IsA definition of magick is in order. Wehave already rejected that of Webster's dictionary:magick as "the use of means (as charms, spells)believed to have supernatural power over naturalforces." Here are some other definitions—bymagickians:"Magic is the science of the control of thesecret forces of nature."— S.L. MacGregorMathers, Order of the Golden Dawn."Magic is a comprehensive knowledge ofall nature." —Francis Barrett."Magick is the Art and Science of causingchanges to occur in conformity with will."—Aleis-ter Crowley."Magic is the art of effecting changes inconsciousness at will."—William Butler."The work of magic involvestransformation, and the first transformation is theshift of perception." — Marion WeinsteinSo we can see that magick involves usingnatural forces to effect willed change, oftenchanges in our own perceptions or consciousness.But what is the goal?4

What Magick Is ForStewart Farrar puts it this way: "The stageby-stage development of the entire human being isthe whole aim of magic."According to Weinstein, magick can help"get your entire life in llyandpsychically. And what is the ultimate purpose ofthe work? To fulfill the self on an even higherlevel. To transform, uplift, and so fully developthe self that the whole Universe may benefitthereby."William G. Gray, another well-knownoccultist, says: "Magic is for growing up as Children of Light. Sane, sound, healthy, and happysouls, living naturally and normally on levels ofinner Life where we can be REAL people as contrasted with the poor shadow-selves we project atone another on Earth."Thus magick exists to expedite, guide andenhance change. Wiccans might say it is the workof the Goddess within: "Everything She touches,changes."It seems a peculiarly human process, as faras we know. Other creatures can change theirenvironments, but only sentient, self-aware beingscan change themselves. Perhaps the cetaceansattempt this too—one day we may explore thespiritual paths and magickal traditions of thedolphins and whales.5

Change ourselves? But to what? To afuller range of possibilities, a broader spectrum ofspirit. Not change to something else, but tosomething more. First learn to know ourselves,then we expand, stretch our hearts and minds andsouls, and explore and develop new territorieswithin ourselves.We are part of All That Is. With magickwe can experience existence from the perspectiveof other parts, and know that we are One. We canexperience at-one-ment with the in-manentSource.Perhaps this is the goal of all spiritualpaths: to reconnect with the Source, to bridge thechasm of illusion which makes us feel separateand alone, to come Home.But the quest requires us to change, andmagick is an effective tool for this. The scary partis this: we can't know who we are changing intountil we actually experience the change. By thenit's too late for second thoughts. We cannotchange back—we can only keep changing, orwither.Because we give up our old selves, anychange is a "little death." To choose this, to will it,and to seek it out is an act of incredible courage.Magick requires daring. It brings the "little death"which is part of rebirth. Not to change is tostagnate and die; but to willingly offer up the lifewe know is to find a greater Life.6

In the Charge of the Goddess, She says,"Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, Iam the mother of all things and my love is pouredout upon the earth." On one level this is true:killing a lamb on an altar stone does not lead toinner growth.Yet on another level sacrifice is required—self-sacrifice, the surrender of the oldpersona-self. This is the meaning of the "HangedOne" of the Tarot Major Arcana, and of Odin's actin Norse mythology: "Nine days and nights I hungon the Tree, myself sacrificed to Myself."To the conscious mind unaware of theimmortal Spirit within, this kind of sacrifice, theloss of the isolated, little persona-self, seems terrifying indeed. Yet through it one regains the lostwholeness of the Greater Self, which is all of us,which is The God/dess.7

Thus far our focus has been on that branch ofmagick called theurgy; or as P.E.I. Bonewitsdefines it, "The use of magic for religious and/orpsychotherapeutic purposes, in order to attain'salvation' or 'personal evolution.' " Though this isgenerally the best and highest use of magick, wewill not ignore thaumaturgy, "The use of magicfor nonreligious purposes; the art and science of'wonder working'; using magic to actually changethings on the Earth Plane."This latter category might include magick toheal physically; to travel safely; to obtainsatisfying employment or a new home; to purifyand bless a house or one's tools; to draw anadequate income; and so on. If such matters areaccomplished without harm to others (as inseeking a job rather than Sam's job), and themagick is performed to supplement material-planeefforts rather than replace them, then there'snothing at all wrong with the practice ofthaumaturgy.8

2Your Magickal EducationPerhaps you are already receivingguidance in your magickal studies, and this bookis simply a supplement to your work. If so, fine!Perhaps, however, you are working by yourself,and have no contact with teachers or withteaching groups near you. Of course, it is possibleto develop some skill in magick on your own,especially if you are careful, diligent, and havesome past-life experience in the magickal arts.But if you work with an ethical and experiencedteacher, and especially within a group, yourprogress will be swifter and more sure.How can you find a teacher, assuming youwant to continue in magick at all? You mightbegin with a ritual: ask your deities or spiritguides for help, meditate on the qualities you seekin a teacher, and charge a lodestone or othertalisman to draw the appropriate one into yourlife.9

Contact PointsThen act in accordance on the material planeby reaching out. Here are some potential contactpoints:Spiritual/Religious Networks: For thoseinterested in Wicca, there is the Covenant of theGoddess (Box 1226, Berkeley CA 94704), which canoffer referrals to covens in many areas, including someoutside the United States. An internationalorganization of Goddess-oriented folk is TheFellowship of Isis, Huntington Castle, Clonegal,Enniscorthy, Ireland, EUROPE. For Pagans generallythere is the Pagan Spirit Alliance, c/o Circle, Box 219,Mt. Horeb WI 53572 U.S.A. And for Pagan women,write Of A Like Mind, c/o R.C.G., Box 6021, MadisonWI 53716 U.S.A.Newsletters and Periodicals: There are manyof these oriented toward Pagans and other magickalfolk. In them, you may read about groups orindividuals near you, especially in the classified ad or"contact" sections. Or you may want to place an ad,such as:"NEW TO MAGICK, seek instruction from anethical and experienced teacher or group in thearea; especially interested in[Wicca, herbal magick, shamanism, whatever]. Pleasecontact Sue, Box xx, this city, state, zip."10

Many newsletters are listed in the Guide toPagan Resources, published by Circle (see address last section), which also publishes CircleNetwork News quarterly.Festivals: Every summer, in most regionsof the United States and in some other countries,Pagans gather to share, network, celebrate andlearn. Most of these events include workshops inwhich you can check out various teachers andtopics, as well as rituals, the barter and sale ofmagickally oriented crafts, sweat lodges andmore. Most newsletters or periodicals publishedfor Pagans include a calendar of events which liststhe major festivals. Though designed mainly forthose of Nature- oriented religions, most festivalsare open to folk of other spiritual paths, so long asthey are friendly and courteous.11

Bookstores: Many cities have bookstoresor supply shops which can be characterized as"occult," "New Age," or "alternative-spirituality."Watch their bulletin board for notices of classes,workshops, or organizational contacts. If yousense that it is appropriate, ask the owners orclerks if they can refer you to teachers.Correspondence Schools: There areseveral individuals and organizations offeringinstruction by mail in magick, Wicca, or Goddessspirituality. While learning by mail is far fromideal, it can be a helpful method for those living insmall towns or rural areas with no groups nearby,or for anyone who has not found instructionlocally in a particular specialized field.Most correspondence teachers make asincere effort, organize their programs carefully,and follow ethical paths. A few have seriousshortcomings: for example, it is wise to avoidschools which advertise their subject as a meansto wealth, romance and the domination of others.Some even misuse the words "Wicca" or"Witchcraft," and teach hexes, curses and manipulative magick rather than an ethical spiritualpath or magickal system.Others are not as morally flawed, but teachgeneral information available in bookseverywhere. In these cases you are paying for theaccessibility of the teacher in answering writtenquestions which come up as you work. If12

the teacher is responsive and knowledgeable, thecourse may be worthwhile even if the printedlessons are lackluster.Evaluating TeachersThere are teachers, and then there areteachers. Some are ignorant, greedy or corrupt.Others are highly evolved Magickal Beings full ofwisdom, love and power. Most are somewhere inbetween, having the common flaws of humanitybut doing their best to teach what they know.How can you tell whether a teacher isworth studying with? Begin by letting go of preconceptions of age, sex, race or mannerisms.Thanks to the conditioning of fantasy novels,motion pictures and the patriarchy, most of uscarry around a stereotype of a magickal adept: anold man with a flowing white beard, a sonorousvoice and rune-covered robes; usually he is alsotall, thin and white.13

In fact, competent magickal teachers come inboth sexes and many colors, shapes and sizes.Occasionally they are quite young in years, but haverecovered much knowledge and wisdom from earlierlifetimes as an adept. But I wish particularly toemphasize how many women are magickal andspiritual teachers in America and in some othercontinents today. We are in a strong majority inWicca, for example, and our psychic and magickalheritage is blossoming again after centuries ofsuppression.You may wish to look for a teacher who:-approaches magick from an ethical and spiritualperspective (possibly a priestess or priest in areligion you find compatible with your own beliefs);-encourages the use of magick for healing and selfknowledge;-is filled with serenity, joy and love much of thetime;-is attentive to the special needs and strengths ofeach student;-honors each student, respecting her or his dignity,worth and experience;-encourages hard questions and free discussion;-insists on experiential exercises and constantpractice, and mastering skills instead of merelywading in theory;14

-freely networks and shares with others outside thegroup, and encourages students to do likewise; and-has a great deal of knowledge and experience, andcan refer students to resources in fields outsideher/his expertise.Are there certain kinds of teachers to avoid? Mostwould not wish to study with an individual who:-uses magick to dominate, manipulate or curseothers;-emphasizes wealth, luxury and material possessionsover spiritual growth and harmony;-treats students as servants or inferiors to boost aninflated ego;-demands control of students' personal lives, sexualfavors, or money in return for teaching;-is unable or unwilling to interact freely with otherpractitioners of magick;-is filled with anger, pain, hatred, bitterness orcynicism;-seems more willing to discuss his/her own powersand exploits than to actually help students developtheir own strengths;15

-insists that the use of addictive drugs is anappropriate path to power or fulfillment; or-becomes impatient or obscure when faced withhard questions.Unfortunately, there are a few unscrupulousoccult "teachers" who project an air of mysteryand power, and draw naive seekers into their orbitto be used and fleeced. If you ever encounter sucha one, get away as fast as you can and sever allcontact. If s/he tries to force you to stay or returnby threatening magickal curses against you, donot give in: you can shield yourself from magickalattack; if s/he tries it, then s/he will suffer theconsequences of The Law of Return. Stay away,surround yourself with white light, and focus ondeveloping your own spiritual strength.The Question of FeesShould you expect to pay for instruction inmagick? If Wicca is the spiritual path you areexploring, and you begin training with a coven,you should not expect to pay for teaching (minimal dues for ritual supplies or photocopies ofhandouts are another matter). On the other hand,if you sign up for a correspondence course or, say,a workshop on Tarot which is open to the public,you will generally pay a modest fee.16

Sometimes it is difficult to say what isappropriate, because there are questions of motivation and accessibility. If a teacher teaches soas to get rich rather than to impart knowledge, theteaching will be tainted. And if a fee is so highthat some people are excluded, say, from learningabout the spiritual aspects of magick— that is notright. If a fee is charged and you are unsurewhether it is appropriate, talk it over with theteacher—then follow your inner guidance.If no fee is charged, yet your teacher generously shares knowledge with you, then considermaking a free-will donation. Even magickians andpriestesses usually need to eat.Learning Magick with BooksBooks are an important resource, if carefully chosen. A list of recommended works is included in the appendices. Most of them are currently in print, so any bookstore should be able toorder them for you; or your library can obtain17

them through an interlibrary loan. Also, mailordersuppliers of "occult" books frequently advertise inthe major Pagan periodicals. Write and ask themfor their catalogs.In shopping for books, avoid anything fullof hexes, curses, or spells to compel others. Norshould you invest much in magickal "recipebooks," which imply that you can get great resultssimply by burying three beans and reciting acouplet at the New Moon. Books which explainhow magick works, and give exercises to help youdevelop new skills and disciplines, are far morevaluable than those which imply that magick issupernatural or easy.In building your magickal library, it mightbe wise to focus at first on really good booksabout one system or path: shamanism, Westernceremonial magick, the Qabalah, Wicca andnature magick, Huna, or whatever approachstrikes a deep chord within you. The alternative—picking up a variety of books on everyconceivable facet of magick as you run acrossthem—is tempting but can get very confusing.Focus on one aspect or system until you are wellgrounded in it, then move on.When you are considering any given book,learn as much as possible about the author. Hasshe or he had extensive experience in the fieldcovered, or is this a popular writer or hackjournalist doing some superficial or sensationalreporting? To take "Witchcraft" books as18

an example—I have read some written by crusading clergymen who knew nothing about theCraft but had a theological axe to grind, and others written by non-Wiccans who breathlesslypromise to "reveal the secrets of witchcraft" andgain the reader instant wealth, power, and love.Others merely seek to titillate readers with anunrelated hodge-podge of magickal spells, medieval tortures, demons, devil-worshipers andhints of naked orgies. Such coffee-table trash isnot worth the time of any serious seeker. Look forbooks by respected priestesses, priests andmagickians who have some stature in themagickal community, or classics which havestood the test of time.Meanwhile, let us continue with the bookyou are holding in your hands right now, andexplore some of the varieties of magick practicedthroughout the world today.19

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3The Varieties of MagickNot everyone practices magick in the sameway. There are varieties of magick followed bydifferent groups, and individuals, in differentlocations. For convenience, we can define andconsider here three major styles: ceremonialmagick, hermetic magick, and nature magick.Styles of MagickStewart Farrar explains that ceremonialmagick "lays emphasis on the robes, colors, tools,weapons, incenses and so on which are used, andon planetary correspondences and hour

For magick, true magick, can change your life. With magick's aid, you can have vibrant health, prosperity, or a new career. You can enhance your relationships or bring new ones into your life. With magick, you can reach deep insidcyourself to find what you despaired of ever having—confidence, courage, tranquillity, faith,