These are a couple theories on how magick works from different practitioners understandings. By understanding these theories you will be able to get a better grasp on magick as a whole through the understandings that people have found magick to react, and/or be initiated by. None of these theories are wrong, or right, and may just be parts of the same understanding, so getting to know them in their ins, and outs will not only allow you to help understand the paradigms that use them, it may also help you better your own practice by allowing you to look at things you might have missed. These are in no shape, or form all of the theories, but they are at least the more popular ones.
Theories on how magick works:
Energetic Theory:
Energetic theory has the understanding that magick works by raising specific universal spiritual energy through the act of using tools, the practitioner’s inner power, or even the energies from other entities, and that the practitioner will be able to gather it, and use their intention in order to give it instructions on what it should do, or manifest. Just by taking this energy, and intending, and directing it towards our goal will allow that gold to manifest. This theory is also very connected to the understanding of a spiritual energy that permeates throughout all of existence in every single construct, and entity, and that this energy can be manipulated, or worked with through intention. In this theory any entity that has intention can harness, and control energy to do magick.
Consciousness Theory:
Consciousness theory has the understanding that magick works by focusing the will of our consciousness upon what we desire, then reality will move in that direction, and will allow it to manifest, because of our connection to consciousness as a whole. All consciousness is seen as connected, and by setting forth are will in that consciousness we will be able to manifest our realities. Whatever thoughts that the practitioner holds in their mind will affect not only the practitioner, but the world around the practitioner. By focusing and mastering the mind one can tap into their consciousness, and subconsciousness to imprint focus upon certain desires, so that they will manifest in the world around them. This understanding is also very connected to the understanding of the universal mind, collective consciousness, and the idea that everything is consciousness. In this theory any entity that has consciousness can focus it to do magick.
Entity Theory:
Entity theory has the understanding that magick works by gaining favor with, or appeasing certain entity, or entities in existence, one will be able to manifest their will, if the entity, or entities, so choose to help the practitioner. These can be any form of entity, or entities that can be communicated with such as deities, angels, demons, spirits, ancestors, animistic spirits, source, and/or the universe. Once these entities are appeased, or that the practitioner have favor with them they are said to go through the act of acting out their will. In this understanding there may be a hierarchy of entities where the top would send entities from the bottom to actually manifest the desires. In this theory any entity that can communicate with higher powers, or other entities will have the potential to do magick.
Psychological Theory:
Psychological theory has the understanding that magick works through the act of deceiving, or redirecting how the practitioner thinks, or believes about something in order to push the practitioner towards there desire. This is based on the premise in which once reality is changed completely based off what they think, and/or believe. By thinking, or believing certain things their reality changes allowing their will to be achieved through a different train of thought. One would use spells and rituals in order to create new mental thought patterns which would allow the practitioner to bring forth, or push themselves towards their desire. One may use magickal items to remind them of what their will is, and to imprinted in their conscious, and subconscious mind. Some may even see this as a form of self hypnosis, or as a way to trigger the placebo effect in themselves. Tools are seen as a way of focusing their will upon their intention, and will be things that will draw the practitioner to thinking, or acting in a way in order to align themselves with their goal. In this theory any entity that has a mind, and can change how that mind thinks, or believes can do magick.
Biological Theory:
Through the act of controlling our emotions, thoughts, and physical factors one will initiate chemical reactions that will allow the practitioner to trigger the release of specific physical energies which will then be able to go forth, and manifest one’s goal. This would be like wanting to be able to go to sleep easier, so the practitioner would focus on sleep allowing the melatonin in their body to be triggered, and activated allowing the practitioner to go to sleep easier. This understanding sees magick is all biological, and created by controlling biological forces in the body from different chemicals to the bioelectromagnetic field around the practitioner. In this theory any biological entity has the potential to do magick.
Quantum Explanation Theory:
Quantum explanation theory has the understanding that magick works by using the will to interact with the mechanics of the universe in order to manifest the desire of the practitioner. The mind of the practitioner is used in order to interact with, and change the behavior of subatomic particles, and energy fields within space/time. Through interacting with the fundamental quantum mechanics one will make changes on the very basic level of being which will in turn react with the greater whole of existence in order to manifest one’s desires, and will. In this theory any practitioner who can access, and interact with quantum mechanics of the universe through their will has the potential to perform magick.
Faith Theory:
Faith theory has the understanding that magick works by having faith, and by believing that something will manifest, if the practitioner thinks about it positively. This theory is based around the premise that all the practitioner needs to do is believe in order to manifest anything. In this theory any entity that can have faith in what they are doing will be able to manifest their magick.
Eclectic, and Syncretic Theory:
Eclectic, and syncretic theory has the understanding that magick works through a combination of multiple, or all other theories, whether it is through bringing them all together to form an amalgamation of the theories, or if it is done through paradigm shiftings. This theory encompasses all, or some theories of how magick works, and uses them together or separately to explain its mechanics.
Thoughtforms are, basically, thoughts that have taken a shape or form. They can be made to do specific tasks, or they can be made into their own person and allowed to have free will. Some people can make them simply by thinking about them and willing them into existence. Others make an object to symbolize the thoughtform, and pour energy into it.
There is a specific practice for making thoughtforms as companions with their own free will, emotions, and thoughts, called Tulpamancy. I do not know much about this, and cannot say much about other than that it sounds slightly similar to what I do.
What Should I Have in Mind While Making a Thoughtform?
Try to have a design already in mind
Many people name the thoughtform based on the thoughtform’s purpose
Make a name sigil. It will give you something to funnel the energy towards
Remember, the thoughtform can evolve and become something else. If you don’t want this to happen, set limits
Research, research, research!
Why Even Make One?
Some people prefer thoughtforms over spirits for a number of reasons. They could simply be wary of working with spirits, or it’s just easier for them. I like the idea of having a thoughtform as a friend. That’s the whole reason I created my shop, Rowan and Sage.
It seems that in tulpamancy, tulpas are created to be companions. They spend most of their time in the person’s head instead of the outside world, which is what some thoughtforms do.
Note: Tulpa is an appropriated term, and was used only because of how it is used in tulpamancy. Neither of us condone the appropriation of terms and cultures. Please, only use the term thoughtform.
Bottom Line: Either way, it’s slightly like “Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends”. You are creating a friend or whatever, and they are real. Some will have emotions and their own ideas, and others will simply do what you say. How they look and act is all up to you.
A small list of random ass sites I’ve found useful when writing:
Fragrantica: perfume enthusiast site that has a long list of scents. v helpful when you’re writing your guilty pleasure abo fics
Just One Cookbook: recipe site that centers on Japanese cuisine. Lots of different recipes to browse, plenty of inspiration so you’re not just “ramen and sushi”
McCormick Science Institute: yes this is a real thing. the site shows off research on spices and gives the history on them. be historically accurate or just indulge in mindless fascination. boost your restaurant au with it
Cocktail Flow: a site with a variety of cocktails that’s pretty easy to navigate and offers photos of the drinks. You can sort by themes, strengths, type and base. My only real annoyance with this site is that the drinks are sometimes sorted into ~masculine~ and ~feminine~ but ehhhh. It’s great otherwise.
Tie-A-Tie: a site centered around ties, obviously. I stumbled upon it while researching tie fabrics but there’s a lot more to look at. It offers insight into dress code for events, tells you how to tie your ties, and has a section on the often forgotten about tie accessories
Even more:
Types of High Heels: A page describing twenty five different types of high heels. It gives a description and pictures. Shake it up from just “stilettos and kitten heels”
Random Job Generator: Exactly as it says. The site offer more generators like characters, plots, or town names.
(a decoy acts as a “substitute” for you, which the curse will be redirected to instead of harming you; the decoy can then be cleansed or destroyed to remove the curse from it; sometimes you don’t get a choice and the decoy gets destroyed, and you have to make a new one if you still desire its protection)
Here’s a few ways to make every single day a witchy day.
Go for a walk where you will be surrounded by nature (whether it be the local park or forest or beach) and smell some flowers or collect some dirt/shells.
Press some flowers to decorate your journal (or book of shadows).
Light a candle.
Light a bunch of candles.
Make some natural toothpaste or deodorant to replace your regular one, feel a difference?
Sunbathe.
Moonbathe.
Put your green thumb to good use and start an herb garden in your kitchen or garden.
Harvest from your plant babies and dry/store them for using in your magic (make sure you give thanks and give them an offering in return.)
Cleanse the space with some incense or just by sweeping.
Take a bath with some herbs, petals and bath salts. Soak in all the scents and charge yourself.
Make yourself some really good tea and practice your tasseomancy.
Give your fur baby some love and do a spell for them or enchant something of theirs.
Put sachets of fragrant herbs all over the house.
Weave some magic into to your knitting or cross-stitching. Make bracelets enchanted with glamours or scarves with protective sigils woven into them for your friends or for yourself.
Volunteer at your local dog/homeless shelter and maybe add some magic into their lives. Enchant some dog collars or give out some good luck in soup form.
Bless your old clothes before you give them to charity.
Maintain a journal for everyday magic and challenge yourself to do one magical thing every day.
Read lots of fiction and get creative with your magic by letting them inspire you.
Do some magic for yourself. Whether it be enchanting you favourite lipstick or necklace, to give you a little bit of a boost throughout the day.
Quite a few actually! I’ll try to organize this the best I can. I am also going to include some information on familiars as well too, because sometimes they go hand in hand for people with familiars.
***If your pet is sick, it is important to take your pet to the vet for proper care. Just like with humans, spells and witchcraft is NOT an alternative to proper vet/medical treatment if your pet needs it. Be responsible.***
Infusions work best for making tea from leaves and flowers as these plant parts give up their active constituents easily.
Allow the tea to steep for 10 to 20 minutes so the therapeutic properties can pass from the herb into the water.
To make an infused oil put dried herbs in the top of a double-boiler, cover with oil about an inch over the herb (olive works well for this because it has a fairly long shelf life), let simmer for 2 hours without letting it get too hot or boiling, a temp of 150 F is good. Strain the oil into a clean jar, date and label. Without any preservatives, infused oil will last about a year.
Decoction
Teas made from roots and twigs are most often brewed by decoction because it is more difficult to extract their medicinal properties any other way. Boil or simmer 1 to 2 teaspoons of the herb per cup of water for 10 to 20 minutes.
Poultice
A poultice is a paste of chopped, fresh (or dried and then re-moistened) plant material which is applied directly to a wound or skin infection. It is held in place by a wet dressing covered by a bandage. Poultices are most often used to prevent infection and hasten healing.
To make a poultice, boil, steam, or pound the healing herb of your choice to release more medicinal compounds. Then shape the material into a small, coin-size wad which can then lie flat against the wound. Many herbalists recommend mixing 1 part herb with 3 parts water, alcohol, witch hazel or vinegar. Thicken with flour to make the poultice easier to handle and apply.
Note: doing a patch test first would be a very good idea to make sure your skin doesn’t get irritated.
Tincture
Stuff dried herbs into a jar, add enough alcohol (usually vodka or everclear (natural grain alcohol), depending on the strength needed for the particular herb) to amply cover the herbs, and screw the lid on. Allow the mixture to stand for about a week, shaking it occasionally. Then strain it, discard the plant material, and store the tincture in a bottle with a dropper lid. Label and date the bottle. Most tinctures have a shelf life of 2 years.
Wash
A tea or infusion meant only for external use. A mild form of a wash would be ¼ ounce of herb to one pint of boiling water, steeped until lukewarm, then applied.
Candlelight-magick 