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Five Life Lessons I’ve Learned from Doing Magic, by Misha Magdalene

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

In modern magical discourse, we spend a lot of time discussing how practitioners should approach the practice of magic, and these discussions are often framed in terms of two viewpoints, which form the ends of a spectrum. At one end, magic is seen as a purely psychological paradigm, and doing magic (if one "does magic" at all) is about inducing changes in the magician's consciousness, rather than creating any sort of tangible effects here on the material plane where most of us live, move, and have our being. From this end of the spectrum, the idea that magic actually has the ability to change the reality outside our own heads can be seen as possible, if implausible, or as laughable wish-fulfillment. At the other, somewhat more traditional end, magic is solely and only about the ability to effect changes in both spiritual and physical realities through the exertion of one's will in a set of specific ritual acts, and any psychological effects the practitioner experiences are, at best, tangential to the work itself. It's become fashionable in modern occult circles to hold one or the other of these mutually exclusive positions, which are fundamentally positions on the "reality" of magic itself, and to insist that the other end of the spectrum is inherently false and misguided.

Being a bit of a contrarian at heart, I'm here to encourage us all to embrace the power of "and." Magic is definitely psychological…and it's absolutely, tangibly real. I've done magic to achieve outcomes in the so-called "mundane" world, and to help me cope with personal and spiritual issues with which I was struggling, and both kinds of magic have worked. In fact, I've learned over time that sometimes, one sort of issue can masquerade as the other: the troubles I'm having in a relationship might manifest as difficulties at work, and my anxieties about money could stem from physical illness or injury. The point is, I don't think it's ever one thing or the other.

So, in the spirit of bridging the gap between the traditional and psychological views on magic, here are five personal, psychological lessons I've learned about life from doing real, operant magic.

1. Caveat emptor.
   Everything has a price and, at the risk of sounding like one of those spooky warnings you hear in a cheesy horror movie, sometimes that cost isn't what you expect. I don't mean something terrible, à la "The Monkey's Paw" or Pet Sematary, but that it often winds up being the sacrifice of something in which you've invested your time and energy, but that is keeping you from having the thing you want…in other words, something you don't really want to give up, but that you're better off without. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's something to keep in mind. As Laura Tempest Zakroff points out, magic takes the path of least resistance. If the thing that keeps you from becoming the full-time artist you dream of being is your mindless day job, doing a spell to clear the way for you to be an artist might get you into a better job where you have time to do art and enough money to buy materials...or it might do you out of a job altogether, so that you have all the time you could want.
2. Contemplate twice, cast once.
   Magic is hardly safe, but a certain amount of daring leavened with caution and common sense will usually see you through. Going into your magical workings knowing what you want is obviously important (and it really is!) but, remembering our previous example of the aspiring artist, considering the ramifications of what you want is also key to good outcomes. I don't mean you should second-guess yourself into a frenzy of doubt, but you should put some honest thought into what you're actually hoping to gain from doing magic, rather than rushing off on a wing and a prayer. What needs and desires are you trying to fulfill with this spellwork, and to what end?
3. Specificity, but with slack.
   Magic works best given leeway. Conversely, I've found that over-plotted, micro-managed magic tends to peter out or dissipate in a cloud of expectations. In my experience, I get the best results from my magic (or really, from anything else in life) when I have a clear sense of the qualities I want the outcome to have, rather than an overly specific notion of what that outcome should be. When you're doing magic, you should absolutely have a goal in mind—what you want your life to look like afterwards—but work to frame that goal in terms loose enough to give your magic some breathing room to operate. So, instead of doing spellwork or praying for some particular job, house, car, or whatever, focus on getting a better one, and consider the ways in which you want it to be better: higher salary, fewer hours, more bathrooms, better gas mileage, and so on. In other words, once you have a sense of the needs and desires you're doing magic to fulfill, focus on creating an outcome that will meet those needs and desires, rather than on an idealized image of a specific outcome you believe will meet those needs and desires.
4. Just walk away.
   Whether it's a performance, a project, or a relationship, we get attached to things in which we've invested ourselves, and that's right and proper. However, all things have a life cycle: a beginning, a middle, and an end. That's common knowledge, but it's easy to forget. It can be tempting for some of us to extend the time and effort we spend with a working, to fiddle with the details, or to revisit a working and "check up on how it’s doing." These temptations are all essentially attempts to feel like we have some sort of control over the outcome, beyond the work we've already put in. When I find myself doing this, I take a deep breath and utter the first half of a magical phrase I learned from cooking-show auteur Alton Brown: "Just walk away." Once you've done the work, set it aside and let the work play itself out. Trust in the magic you've done, in the gods and spirits you've invoked, and, to quote the second half of Alton Brown's magic phrase, "Your patience will be rewarded."
5. Whenever possible, be kind.
   One needn't be a Buddhist or a Christian to believe that much of human existence is defined by suffering. After all, Thorn Coyle writes in Evolutionary Witchcraft how Victor Anderson, the late grandmaster of the Feri Tradition, taught her that witchcraft was born out of human suffering and human need. If we turn to C. G. Leland's Aradia, we are shown magic as both a weapon against the oppressors of the land and a comfort in times of trouble. Turn to the classical grimoires or to compendiums of folk magic and you'll see spells intended to cure illnesses for people and livestock, to find money and bring about prosperity, to ease suffering and give respite. Perhaps it sounds corny, but it's true: all of us struggle at one time or another, and few of us are at our best when we're struggling. It behooves those of us who would seek to hold and wield power, magically or otherwise, to let kindness be our default setting, especially when dealing with those who have less power than we do. That doesn't mean coddling others' weakness, or letting parasites siphon your time and energy. It also doesn't mean condemning others for being weak or needy. It means being compassionate, understanding, and ethical, even when there are compelling provocations to do otherwise. We can think of it as a kind of noblesse oblige, or as an iteration of the Golden Rule, the one about treating others as we would wish to be treated in their position. Either way, how we use the power given to us is, I think, revelatory. If we want magic to dominate others and do reckless harm, we're the sort of people who, under other circumstances, would use any other kind of force to do the same. On the other hand, if we want magic to improve our lives and the lives of those around us, it suggests we're invested in the world being a better place.

And those, in the end, are the greatest occult secrets I know. Learn to be careful, discerning, mindful, patient, and kind, and you will know far more about both magic and life than any number of would-be master magicians or witches. Moreover, you'll be the sort of person who can master themselves, which is the beginning and the end of all true magic.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2020. All rights reserved.

I was born on July 10, 1965. I am very psychic/intuitive and sensitive in every way. This can be burdensome and exhausting, because I take in so much visible and invisible stimuli. I do realize it is a gift, however, and I am trying to figure how I can best use it for myself and others. I also have Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, and while I can focus on the spiritual realm within, I have a hard time focusing on my job as a night auditor at a hotel. My work is very detail-oriented, and I am constantly getting interrupted by guests and the phone ringing. I get off track easily and it takes me too long to get back "in the groove" and refocus on what I was doing. It can be very overwhelming at times, but I believe I do have the potential to do a good job. I've been here for five months, and am getting pressure from management to "get it together." I am wondering what I should ask my angels/spirit guides in order to get the help I need to do a good job. Right now my intuition is telling me that I might be getting fired soon, even though many of the guests have praised me to management. Do you think angels/spirit guides can help with ADHD?

Patty

Dreamchaser:

I know you don't want to hear this, but I really feel you are in the wrong job. Each one of us has to find work that suits our personal strengths and weaknesses, and your current situation is just not ideal given your ADHD issues. This work is too detail-oriented, and you are just interrupted too often. Towards the end of the shift, it is practically impossible for you to get back on track. As a result of all of this, you are under tremendous stress every time you go to work.

Patty, you are SO good with people. The guests even comment on how kind and helpful you are. This is one of your strong suits. I think you should consider working with people instead of numbers and details.

I am a HUGE proponent of using our guides, angels, God, helpers of all kind, etc., to help us find the perfect job for us. I am living proof of the wisdom of this approach. By now most of you know I worked as an accountant for many years. I could not stand going to work, and would hit the snooze button at least twice every morning.

It was what most people considered a "great" job: I made a lot of money and I was "in the game." I had a good reputation for being thorough, and everyone thought I had a very bright future. I was in line to become a partner. Despite all of this, I dreaded going to work. I finally asked the Universe (and all the helpers in it) to put me where I belong, and I wound up at Psychic Chat.

Your destiny gave birth to you; your destiny will find you if you allow it. I strongly advise you to start asking out loud for help from the Universe. Ask your angels to lead you to your perfect working situation.

I don't want to sound naive and I'm certainly not a doctor, but I believe if you are in the right position for you, your AD/HD will not be a glaring problem. The old cliche "if you have lemons, make lemonade" keeps coming to mind. Even if you suffer from ADHD, you can find a good job for you. Instead of asking your angels to help you with your AD/HD, I would ask them to help you find the place where your unique gifts can do you and the world the greatest good. It worked for me!

You have to ask yourself why you want to keep this job so badly. Since it's causing you so much stress, perhaps losing it would be for the best!

I wish you the ideal career for you.

*****

Astrea:

ADD and AD/HD afflict so many people now. I often wonder what happened before these conditions were so readily diagnosed. I know that you are not trying to find excuses for what's going on in your life, and that you're challenged by a very real condition.

However, it sounds to me like you're not just a night auditor - you're the night receptionist and desk clerk too! You seem to be doing YOUR job plus two more. No wonder you get scattered with all of those interruptions.

While I'm sure it is much more pleasant to engage in conversations with the guests than to crunch the numbers tucked away in some office, you're getting in trouble just for doing your job. Perhaps you could have a calm talk with the person who hired you and discuss moving to a full-time desk position where your talents and abilities could be put to better use.

If the hotel hired an additional person to be the night auditor, you could stay where you're most needed and do the job you most enjoy: interacting with the guests and serving as a representative of the hotel.

Your Guides and Angels want to support you in this, but you have to help them to help you. They're not sure what it is you want them to do. Since you feel you need some help remaining focused, here is a short ritual that may help you access the information you need.

The Japanese hold a festival for tailors called "The Festival of Broken Needles." A shrine is built from the broken needles that tailors saved through the year. These are intended as an offering and reminder of the work the needles have performed over the course of the past twelve months.

In honor of this festival, ask your Guides and Angels, "What are my broken needles? What tools do I rely on now?" Once you have chosen them, build a little shrine of your tools to include your Guides and Angels in your work. Burn an orange candle to represent the "harvest" or what you must reap from your job. Burn a brown candle for new duties and endeavors at work. Carefully reflect on your job and ask your Guides and Angels to continue to be with you and support you in this area of your life. Before you blow out the two candles, say a prayer of thanksgiving, and ask for the highest and the best blessings to come your way. Then be on the lookout for positive changes!

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.