Magic and Spirituality
(Lesson 2)

To what are we referring when we use the term “spirituality?”  Are we talking about religion?  No, not necessarily, as one can be “spiritual” without being “religious” and there are definitely a number of religions out there that just aren’t very “spiritual.”  For our purposes, lets say that spirituality is a way of experiencing the divine spark – i.e., spirit.  Notice the use of the word “experience.”  Spirituality isn’t about “going through the motions,” following the herd and reading along with the “herdsman” or stepping through rituals, the meaning of which, you have no idea.  Now, that’s not to say that sacred texts and ritual aren’t spiritual.  They are, so long as they are understood and, most importantly, so long as they have meaning to those who take part in them.  If you are reading along with the scripture and never stop to take a look at what it is really saying, then what is the purpose of reading it?  If you are following along with the ritual, because it’s “what we’ve always done” and it’s “what everyone else is doing,” but you really have no idea why the ritual is done or what it represents, then it serves no purpose.  It has no real meaning and benefits you in no way, whatsoever.

 Spirituality can include a religion with a multitude of rituals and volumes of scripture, or it can be completely devoid of anything of the kind.  Spirituality can sometimes be very simply a set of beliefs and values that lead us to act and react in certain ways.  The only really import factor, with regards to spirituality, is that our spiritual path leaves spirit feeling fulfilled and that we come away with some kind of an understanding, or at least the beginning of an understanding, about all of the “why’s” and “how’s” that tend to plague human existence.

 When we talk about spirituality, we often hear terms like “individual spirituality” or “spiritual path.”  These terms generally refer the concept that each individual has the right to seek out his or her own way of experiencing deity.  We call these many individual approaches “paths,” because spirituality is generally looked upon as a journey from the darkness of the confused questioning of our own existence to a state of enlightened understanding.

 Now, there are many paths and there is good reason for this.  No one has the absolute corner on the “correct” approach to spirituality.  There is no “one perfect path to suit the needs of all humanity.”  Everybody is different and, consequently, everybody sees the universe in a different way.  This is diversity and it is a glorious thing!  Think of how boring this life would be if everything were always the same.  The point is that everyone has a different path to walk.  Often, these paths will converge and cross and even run parallel to one another, but ultimately, they are all different.  Even so, all paths will eventually lead to the same destination – some may take a little longer to get there and some might be a little more difficult to travel along.  In the end, we’re all headed toward Deity and there is no path that is any more or less valid than any other.

At this point, you might be asking yourself what any of this has to do with magic.  Well, the answer is a very ambiguous “very little and yet, very much.”  One does not necessarily need to have a particular spiritual backing.  One could conceivably do magic for a lifetime without ever invoking deity or calling on spirits or angels or what have you.  However, those magicians that do follow a defined spiritual path, even one of their own creation, have the ultimate advantage.  Having a set belief system, even one that changes periodically, provides the magician with a wellspring of benefits. 

 First, you have the benefit of faith.  Of course, you are going to have to have faith in your own abilities and in the reality of the practices that comprise your particular brand of magic.  However, both of these are often bolstered by the faith that comes with the fulfillment of a personal spiritual path.

Second, you have the vast and infinite source of magical energy that comes with a given belief system.  Deities, spirits and other such entities are often called upon to lend their unique energies to magical workings.  Thereby amplifying the power of the magician.

Defining a personal spiritual path not only increases the effectiveness of the magician, it further helps the magician to grow as an individual.  This is a relevant point to consider, as magic is as much about creating change on the inside as it is about creating the same on the outside.