Corpus Magi: The Body of the Magician

By Raistlin Odhinnsdaughter

Magic is a many-faceted jewel and may be defined in many ways: it is the ability to alter material reality by means of the will; to create change in accordance with one's will by the utilization of natural energies, to manifest one's desires in the material world and, at its base, it is power. It also puts an incredible strain on the body of any would-be mage and while this may not be readily apparent in the beginning, it is one of the fundamental difficulties and dangers at the advanced levels. Essentially, "a mage turns his body into a conductor of energy streams and currents from all zones of existence. …he is able to draw in certain forces or combination of forces, and then to reshape and redirect them as he wishes." (1) In effect, the magician becomes a conduit of raw electricity, the body functioning much the same as a coil of copper wire or, in ritual, the wand.

It takes years of training to prepare the body to safely handle the tremendous levels of power that define the Adept. The basic relaxation exercises as well as grounding and centering slowly strengthen both the will and control of the mage, while allowing the body the time and experience to adapt to the ever increasing flow of magical energy. The majority of practitioners never rise above the most fundamental of levels, most are satisfied with simple candle spells and the occasional amulet. For these, there is no cause for worry, the level of power held within the body is generally too low to cause any noticeable physical changes in the caster; for those who aspire to higher levels, however, the physical problems can be quite extraordinary.

Once the magician totally dedicates him or herself to advancement in the Art, the body becomes their primary tool, second only to the magician's will. Since magic is the art of power, at its most fundamental level an act of will, as the practitioner grows in skill, the will must therefore manifest through the physical body. As the chakras are fully opened, and blockages of energy released, the power level of the magician will surge; this happens many, many times as the mage progresses from one level to the next. In themselves, these surges are an excellent sign, heralding the student's advancement, however they can cause fairly distressing symptoms until the body fully assimilates the change. Strengthening the magical sense is rather like strengthening a muscle: it takes time, patience, concentrated effort and endurance to pain.

There are four major levels of magic: apprentice, journeyman, master and adept. Personally, I divide journeyman level into low journeyman and high. An apprentice is one who has just taken up the study of magic, although one may remain at this level for years. It is here that one learns the basic exercises such as grounding and centering that will later prove invaluable. The raising of energy and natural correspondences are also taught at this level. This is where the magician forms what should be a firm, solid foundation of knowledge and disciplined control that will carry him or her safely through to the next level. Most people never leave this stage. It also applies to a magician of whatever level has chosen to study under someone of greater will, knowledge and skill. Journeyman level is the time when experimentation can begin; the student has mastered the basics and is ready to expand that knowledge into practical use. At high journeyman level, the magician begins working directly within the wyrrd-web, consciously weaving its strands to his or her arcane will. It is here also that the mage begins to find a personal niche, a favored style of magical study, and it is here that the physical problems begin. Before we address those in detail, however, I would like to touch on the final two levels of magic. At master level, the magician is able to confidently manifest magical energy even to the eyes of the unbelieving (what one of my students calls the 'fireball effect' since it is here possible to create visible manifestations). He or she can work with nearly 100% accuracy. The adept is able to consciously manipulate the space-time continuum, and here raises magic to the level of quantum physics. This is understandably rare.

The physical problems begin at journeyman level because it is here that one begins working directly on the web, it is here that the will is truly used to find and form every possible source of energy. And it is here that the magician is confident enough to pull those energies into the body. Generally at apprentice level, the student works only with the energy found in his or her own body; at journeyman level, that same student begins pulling from other outside sources, so as to cast greater magics. The magician is necessarily limited when only calling on the energy of his or her own body, especially when there is an unlimited supply to be found outside of oneself.

As I stated earlier, the physical problems are numerous and often quite frightening: headaches, sometimes migraines, dizziness, nausea, distorted vision, hot flashes, fever, weight loss, and exhaustion (extreme exhaustion – this is probably the most common symptom and can also be a problem when learning to shield strong psychic gifts, especially empathy.). The first thing I require my students to do, at the onset of any one of these problems, is to go for a full physical. It is necessary to rule out any medical condition. We are not dealing in the realm of fantasy here, magic is real, its effects are quite real, and the magician must learn to take care of the physical body as much as possible. The aspiring magician should see a doctor regularly (although I would refrain from mentioning the pursuit of any occult studies!); he or she should also visit an ophthalmologist on a fairly regular basis.

Now while I don't presume to offer any medical advice, there are certain common-sense measures that should be taken to keep the body, one's precious magical tool, as healthy as possible. Firstly, the mage should take a multi-vitamin daily being sure to receive enough vitamin E, C, B12 and iron. Since the increased flow of energy may disrupt the electrolyte balance in the body, he or she should also be sure to eat enough fruits and vegetables containing potassium (bananas are ideal). Diet must be watched very carefully. Red meat should be avoided as it inhibits the flow of energy through the body. Avoid processed and sugary foods for the same reason. While I often recommend brief fasts to aid in the development of discipline or to cleanse the body, it is important to remember that in using magic, one is getting quite a physical workout, the body is expending energy and calories. It is important to eat well, even though at the higher levels the magician may not feel hungry that much. The mage should also strive to sleep regularly as needed. Try to avoid disruptions of one's sleeping schedule. One of the most important things a magician can do for him or herself is to take excellent care of the body.

It is also extremely important to ground and center every single day. The importance of these simple exercises, readily available in any book of magic or the Craft, cannot be overstated. They are the most important exercises the magician will ever do regardless of the ultimate level achieved. They grant control and increase stamina. It is nearly impossible to advance magically without them.

Beyond that the only thing the magus can do is endure. Once physical illness has been ruled out, simply accept these symptoms as the price of power just as the athlete would accept a certain degree of physical discomfort as the price of excellence. The body will in time adjust and then these problems will only resurface when the magician has seriously overspent him or herself. Magic is not easy, it leaves its mark on the body. It is often painful, exhausting and frustrating but to a true devotee, its rewards are beyond price.

Sources:

1. Dark Heart, Daniell, Tina. TSR Inc., 1992. P. 74. On a personal note, yes I took the name 'Raistlin' because I admired the character and one day hope to achieve that degree of power. The name is my inspiration.

2. The Psychic Self-Defense Personal Training Manual, Pickands, Marcia. Samuel Weiser, Inc. 1997.