I don't do a lot of the spells that you do with all the props. My magic usually comes from my heart and thoughts. I mostly deal with energy. Magick to me is not something that is manifested, to me it is a way to help me focus on what it is that is really needed. Be it prosperity, healing, or just that wonderful feeling that you sometimes get.

You know that old saying, "be careful what you wish for."? I am always careful of what I wish for, because quite more often then not they come true. Some just take more time then others.

Marie

Farren, thanks for posting! First, the main reason for the lack of activity here and in the rest of Tribe is because the daily digest function that most people count on to tell them that there are new posts in their Tribes has been broken for months. Tribe is trying to fix it, but until that is working, it's probably going to continue to be slow.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program...I agree that Magick is not some parlor trick where you tell the universe what to do and *poof* it happens. That's illusion. I don't really use "spells", but I do often refer to my work as "casting" because I am casting my intentions into the universe with specific purpose and intent and then waiting for that influence to manifest in action. I look at it the same way you do, I am not imposing my will, just sending my energy in a particular direction. When I work with a group, we combine our energies toward a mutual goal to achieve the requested change.

Notice I said requested. You can't force things. When I was young and tried to force things to happen, it worked but with very negative consequences. As Marie said, careful what you wish for. If the change must be forced, it was not intended for you and has this cascading effect in your life. Example: I used a spell out of a book many years ago when I was younger and inexperienced before a job interview to guarantee I would get the job. Well, I did and it was the worst job I have ever had and it took me 2 years to find a new job and get out (I even took a pay cut to finally get out of that horrible situation). I should have just sent my energy toward the goal of finding the perfect job for me at that time in my life and let the universe decide what that was.

I say let's put out a 'Fluffy-pagan' calendar and sell it to them because that's karmically just. Yes, I know what you mean. This sort of understanding about magic takes time and practice and maturity. Although, I can say that it is kind of fun when my 20-something sister used to call me over to her place or bring her friends to me for 'emergency tarot readings'. Yeah, I can do that! *smirk, cackle*