Magic or Magick?

First off the name "magic" or "magick", many associate the spelling of magick with a "k" at the end with Aleister Crowley, who wanted to distinguish magick with a "k" or ritual magic from per formative or stage magic.

Aliester Crowley defined "magick" as: "the art and science of causing change to occur in conformity with the will."

A book from 1685 spelled magick with a "k" nearly 200 years before Aliester Crowley.

"The Magick of Kirani King of Persia, and of Harpocration."
It was written in Arabic translated into Greek, Latin and finally into English. Throughout the book the spelling of "magick" occurs; this most likely held over from translation to translation. In the forward to this book is written a description of magick:

"Now magick I take to be 'a skill which by a certain power, yet not supernatural, but created is able to do unusual things whose causes are beyond the common comprehension of men.' In this definition we exclude Miracles, as supernaturally wrought by the finger of God. And by excluding from it all Diabolical contract, we must intend no other magick purely natural or the skill of managing nature by art, so as to accomplish strange things."

The Books themselves lists various herbs, fishes, birds and stones that are purported to have certain substances that can cure various ailments. Harpocration lists 24 herbs, 24 fishes, 24 birds and 24 stones each was associated with an element: plants to Earth, fowl to Air, stones to Fire and fishes to Water.

Some theorize that "magick" works like quantum mechanics. Citing that "spooky action" at a distance supports this concept:

"Magick is sometimes conceptualized as an application of quantum mechanics, where intentionality acts as an observer influencing probabilistic outcomes, essentially "collapsing the wave-function" to manifest desired realities. While popular in metaphysical discussions, this is largely metaphorical; scientific quantum "magic" refers to non-classical phenomena like entanglement or tunneling."

I wish I understood quantum mechanics better so as to elaborate or even describe this theory in more detail, it is a very intriguing concept.
Throughout this article I will be spelling "magick" the operative function with a "k" to distinguish it from illusionary or stage "magic".

Magical Realms

In mythology the unseen or magical realms become accessible at liminal points; during heavy fog, at dawn or dusk. At Samhain or Beltane when the veil is at it's thinnest between the "dark-half" and the "light-half" of the year. Cross-roads, mirrors, doorways even water are thought to be liminal spaces between this world and the other.

Magick then becomes something that can be accessed at times between two spaces, it naturally occurs during unusual circumstances or when liminality interposes. The shaman, the magician and the witch are acutely aware of this state and takes advantage of it. They having the ability to stand between and betwixt, in a place that is not a place, at a time that is not a time.

Skepticism vs. Fantasy

For myself I am perfectly content to remain skeptical and suspend my skepticism during operations of magick to skirt that line between reality and fantasy - believing that the stronger the opposition the thinner the veil. If I am confident that certain actions or certain materials will translate during a magical operation so much the better.

The human imagination has given birth to every single creation known from the wheel to Artificial Intelligence. We have to be able to conceptualize it first and then create it, if there is a will there is a way. The imagination is possibly the most powerful intellectual ability we possess. And yet the analytical and skeptical mind seems to deny this fact, wanting to replace it with rational thought.

The imagination is the fire and rationality the crucible. Rationality serves the imagination and when rationality tries to be the master it become static and impotent, searching for data to filter through - it can not create anything it can only manipulate what is available.

As with most concepts in alchemy and magick, keeping that balance between imagination and skepticism is key. As above, so below. Severity and mercy, light and dark, solve et coagule - that liminality and balance.

Observable Magick?

I do not believe it can be observed, weighed, or put under a microscope or studied with a control group. The most obvious test is to do the intended ritual and record whether the operation was successful or not. I do not keep a good record of my magical operations and many of them have been spontaneous and not planned. I have had successes and I have had failures. If I were to guess I would say they are close to 50/50.

Going from memory the successes I have had were due to my state of mind, that ability to remain in a liminal state. The failures were when my state of mind was in question and doubt of the outcome.

So, how the fuck does magick work?

I don't know. I am sure there are an infinite number of theories out there and of course each and every one of them are true and accurate. Find what you think works best for you and develop that process.