What is magic?

What is magic anyway? What is this Pure Magic?

Real magic, the magic of the Earth, is Pure Magic. Magic in its purest form consists of a dialogue between Earth and yourself, a dialogue whereby you are able to express your desires, receive and recognize a response and are then able to make your wishes and desires come true. Earth’s gift to her children, it is the simplest, most basic and most ancient magical art, open to all. Expenses are minimal. No specialized metaphysical training is required. You don’t even need to understand what metaphysical means. What is required is an awareness of the natural rhythms, energies, powers and patterns of Earth and her diverse inhabitants. These rhythms and powers are then manipulated in a harmonious and conscious manner to help manifest your goals. In simple language, Pure Magic encourages you to take your dreams and desires and translate them into concrete reality.

Magic is a practical art.

By definition, magic is mysterious and effective.

The effective part is crucial: magic is a practical art. There are spells that have lasted for millennia. If they absolutely didn’t work ever for anyone, they wouldn’t be remembered. The converse is also true: no one thing works for everyone. This goes for conventional medicine, traditional medicine, educational theories and magic, too. Because your headache defied that aspirin, doesn’t mean that aspirin never works. It just wasn’t the right tool for you at that moment. “But that’s real life,” you protest, “not magic!” Well, magic is real life, too. There is a power that radiates from all living beings in varying degrees of force and clarity. The Polynesians refer to it as mana. Among the Yoruba, a prominent language group of Western Africa, it is known as axé. In Morocco, this power is called baraka and in other areas of the Islamic world some variation on that word way be used.

Practical Spells

Money Salt Scrub

• 1 cup of sea salt

• 1/2 cup oil, preferably safflower or sweet almond

• 4 drops essential oil of basil

• 4 drops essential oil of cedarwood

• 2 drops essential oil of cinnamon leaf

• 2 drops essential oil of patchouli

Make your bathroom as luxurious and comfortable as possible. Dim the lights, burn some green candles. Rub the scrub on your body with gentle, circular motions and see yourself financially comfortable, prosperous and secure.

Yemaya Fertility Ritual

• Watermelon (it must be the type with seeds)

• Small blue or white candle

1. Bring a small watermelon to the beach.2. Cut a well into the watermelon.3. Dress the candle, if you wish. Hold it in your hands, charging it with your desire and your intent.4. Insert the candle into the watermelon’s well, light it and send it out to sea, making your petition to Yemaya all the while. (Make sure the candle is biodegradable and environmentally safe, sending toxins into Yemaya’s holy sea won’t earn you any points.)

Yemaya is the Yoruba matriarch of the sea, women and fertility. She is particularlysympathetic to those who struggle with infertility.

A Spice Necklace to Relieve Grief

• Cloves

• Juniper berries

Strong red thread and a sewing needle

1. Soak the spices overnight to soften them.

2. Puncture with a strong needle and string the spices onto the thread.

3. You may find the beading motion to be soothing in itself or you may wish to concentrate upon your goals, desires or the expression of your grief as you puncture and string each spice bead.

4. When the necklace is sufficiently long, knot it tightly and hang it to air-dry.

5. In order for this to be effective, you must give the aroma the opportunity to perform its magic. Hang it near your bed at night or wear it in bed at night so that the fragrance can reach you.

Earth Mother Magic

Some fifteen hundred years ago, the Teuton tribes of Northern Europe held an annual ceremony. At night, under the rays of the moon, a veiled statue of their preeminent female divinity was placed in a wagon. Her sacred cows were hitched to the wagon, which was pulled through the fields, as people assembled to greet and salute them. While this ceremony itself has not been performed in centuries, vestigial memories of Herta or Eartha, as her name is sometimes spelled, remain. Her name resonates in language as the name given to our planet, Earth. We can’t presume to understand all that this specific ritual meant to the Teutons nor precisely what their expectations might have been. Much of what we know about Teutonic ritual comes to us via descriptions written by Romans, themselves outsiders to the culture. The Romans tell us that this was a joyous time for the Teutons. Destruction and warfare were consciously and deliberately ceased, placed on hold, at least for the duration of the ritual.