{"id":616,"date":"2017-06-04T12:33:10","date_gmt":"2017-06-04T20:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/?p=616"},"modified":"2017-06-04T12:33:10","modified_gmt":"2017-06-04T20:33:10","slug":"magick-not-band-aid-fix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/2017\/06\/magick-not-band-aid-fix.html","title":{"rendered":"Magick Is Not a Band-Aid Fix (Or Is It?)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"magick-bandaid\"
\nTalking about spells is probably one of my least favorite things to do when discussing elements of Witchcraft. Even as a teenager, I was more interested in books on mythology and folklore than those focusing on spellcraft. \u00a0History, theory, practice, culture: all day long please. \u00a0Modern books on spells? Nope.<\/p>\n

So you could possibly imagine the fields of joy I was experiencing when I was on Coast to Coast AM<\/em><\/a> last week to promote The Witch\u2019s Cauldron<\/em><\/a>, and the subject kept coming back to spells. \u00a0Which meant me talking about solving problems through mundane means, no easy fixes, and doing work for yourself. Yet afterwards, my inbox got flooded with emails asking for spells. \u00a0(No, I wasn\u2019t surprised either.)<\/p>\n

It is perhaps ironic that for as much as I dislike talking about spells, I\u2019m really good at magick. \u00a0I rarely do \u201cingredient\u201d spells (aka, sympathetic magick), but I have a knack for prescribing the right spell or ritual for folks who need it. (In person counseling or folks I know \u2013 not random emails from people looking for a quick or easy fix.) \u00a0Most of my magick doesn\u2019t involve what you may classically think of as spells.<\/p>\n

I DO\u00a0love the \u201cstuff.\u201d I collect magickal tools, I love herbs and oils, random ephemera, beautiful handmade items and things collected from nature. \u00a0It\u2019s the artist part of my nature to collect and admire beautiful things \u2013 and they often serve as inspiration for art, even if I\u2019m not using them for spellcraft.<\/p>\n

I feel far more comfortable doing spellcraft paintings and designing sigils for other people. \u00a0There\u2019s a science to it that I respond to innately. \u00a0The \u201caction\u201d of the spell doesn\u2019t stem solely from my drawing or painting it, but the interaction the end user has with it. \u00a0It\u2019s a tool for them to activate. \u00a0It\u2019s like connecting circuits \u2013 the power happens when they\u00a0make contact with it. \u00a0My art is not a magic bean that bestows miracles. \u00a0I also feel the majority of my clients understand this as well. \u00a0They understand that they are responsible for making change happen.<\/p>\n

\"\"
mini spellcraft paintings by the author<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I suppose my inherent dislike for talking about spells is that the majority of people don\u2019t understand them, or how they work. \u00a0They\u2019re looking for an easy fix to whatever their issue is. \u00a0They think if they follow a series of steps and put in the right ingredients, it\u2019s just like a recipe for baking a cake. \u00a0But even baking a cake isn\u2019t that easy. \u00a0My mother is an accomplished baker, and there are numerous times when recipes she\u2019s been making for years come out wonky for one reason or another. \u00a0There\u2019s more to it than\u00a0following a recipe: quality of ingredients, timing, heat, humidity, containers, etc. \u00a0And if you keep working with a broken oven or old flour, things aren\u2019t going to work out well.<\/p>\n

The same is true for magick and the nature of metaphysics. \u00a0True, you may follow the list of ingredients and might<\/em> get the desired result on your first try, but that doesn\u2019t make you a witch, magician, or<\/em> a baker. \u00a0Magick isn\u2019t just spellcraft, it\u2019s understanding the flow of energy, recognizing patterns, and getting beyond elbows deep in it all.<\/p>\n

There is no instant-fix, wave-of-a-wand spell to solve your problems. \u00a0You can\u2019t do a prosperity spell to get a new job, then sit on your arse, not updating your resume, or networking. \u00a0Well you can, but it\u2019s probably not going to actually work. \u00a0Magick isn\u2019t an outside force, mystically waiting around to do your bidding. \u00a0Magick is the energy of things you set into motion \u2013 in your environment and most especially, in yourself. \u00a0A spell can help give you focus, but you need to actively invest in your choices, needs, and take responsibility. \u00a0A ritual can help relieve tension, stress, and emotional issues, but they still need to be dealt with mundanely.<\/p>\n

So with that said, magick can<\/em> be a band aid that helps protect you while you heal, like it can be a splint to help set a broken bone. \u00a0It can guide the way. \u00a0But if you keep hitting people with your bruised hand, it\u2019s not going to heal, regardless how strong that band aid is. \u00a0It won\u2019t prevent you from getting more bruises. \u00a0A cast\u00a0helps, but if you keep insisting on kicking concrete walls, it can\u2019t stop you. \u00a0Nor can you leave on a band aid forever \u2013 the condition needs to be addressed, aired, cleaned out, and taken care of. \u00a0That part is up to you, and following your will with action to support your work.<\/p>\n

Be the magick you wish to see in the world, but first you must see it within yourself.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I suppose my inherent dislike for talking about spells is that the majority of people don’t understand them, or how they work. They’re looking for an easy fix to whatever their issue is. They think if they follow a series of steps and put in the right ingredients, it’s just like a recipe for baking a cake. But even baking a cake isn’t that easy. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2676,"featured_media":617,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[69,52,264,263,54,193,4],"class_list":["post-616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-metaphysics","tag-magic","tag-magick","tag-metaphysics","tag-spell","tag-spellcraft","tag-spells","tag-witchcraft"],"yoast_head":"\nMagick Is Not a Band-Aid Fix (Or Is It?)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I suppose my inherent dislike for talking about spells is that the majority of people don't understand them, or how they work. They're looking for an easy fix to whatever their issue is. They think if they follow a series of steps and put in the right ingredients, it's just like a recipe for baking a cake. 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