Magick for beginers

Magick

A beginner's guide to understanding

The first question to ask is "Is Magick Real?" The true answer depends on what you think Magick is. It is not what "Magic" which is prestidigitation (slight of hand) and illusion which is stage magic. Stage magic is for entertainment and secondarily to lead the masses to believe that real magick doesn't actually exist

To begin to understand what magick is a bit of history in the lesson is needed. In the past many things were called magic, most of which fell under the activities of Alchemy. Things that seemed magickal in the past would not be considered to be today. Many things in wide spread acceptance and use today came from Alchemists. Today those practices are simply referred to as technology and science. Skills like chemistry, metallurgy, herbology, pharmacology and others derived their beginnings in the practice of Alchemy. They are no longer considered magick but now considered professions that use scientific knowledge. By redefining many of the Alchemy skills as either science or technology they are more widely accepted and not considered to be from an "Evil Source".

The other branch of magick is also known by another name today. What was once called "Life Essence Magick" today is referred to "Paranormal Abilities (or skills)" Some of these "paranormal" skills are even being studied by various governments. In particular the skills of Telepathy, Telekinesis, Remote Viewing, and Premonition (or prophecy) (also known as Far Seeing).

In the past, often those with paranormal abilities studied with Alchemist and combined the skills. Many that came by their "paranormal" skills without any kind of training grouped together to better understand the skills and to train in enhancing and improving those skills. These groups were often very secret groups. Many people were frightened by those with these abilities. They were thought to be evil which is just silly, but that idea was often promoted by religious groups, particularly the leaders of religious affiliations. They didn't and still don't want the masses to take up trying to develop those skills because it would challenge the authority and leadership of religion. They did not want to lose control of people and so promoted the idea that any paranormal skills anyone would display were evil and came from devil worship. It should be noted at this time that magick or paranormal abilities or skills are not evil. They have no polarity in either good or evil. That isn't to say that practitioners can't be evil. It is the use and intent of the practitioner that would make skills or abilities seem evil or good.

One of the skills that Alchemist developed was herbology. This would be the growing, harvesting, drying and mixing of herbs to be used medicinally. Very often female herbalist would run shops as spice merchants and conduct there herbal work more covertly. These women also worked as midwives for less affluent members of their society. Once the midwives were identified by "physicians" of that time they were often accused of being witches and usually there herbalist practice was sited as proof that they were making "Witches Brews or Potions". It is believed this was done in order to keep women of that time out of the practice of medicine and out of the fear of lost revenues in the birthing business. Some of the "evidence" presented at the "witch trials" was witness reports that when apprehended the woman was making evil potions in a witches caldron. In reality a "witch's caldron" was simply a cast iron cooking pot, the same kind inns of the day used to brew stews and soups. In the case of the accused witch it was reported that the brew she was making used poison plants and animal parts. These so called poison plants were herbs and the animal parts was often just lard which is rendered fat from cattle and pigs or hogs. In one case a "Witches' Potion Book" was presented as evidence against the accused. It was later found that the confiscated book was a book of herbal remedy recipes that had been changed through collaborations between a group of physicians and high members of a religious group. The ingredient amounts remained but the ingredients were change to things like "Eye of Newt" and "Unicorn Blood" and fingers or toes of freshly killed children. This just one such perversion used to keep women out of the practice of medicine and midwifery. Another piece of "evidence" presented at both witch and sorcerer trials were scented candles. These candles were made with herbs and essence oils mixed in the wax to produce specific aromas when burned. This along with incense was where aroma therapy started. Since candles made at that time didn't really have much of a scent the scented candles were supposed evidence of witchcraft practice.