Magic

In common terms, magic is the art of producing a desired outcome through occult means. Various arts are described as magical, from common street illusionists, village herbalists, and rituals for the intercession of deities. However, true magic is the art and science of elemental mastery, harnessing elemental creatures and instructing them to perform simple or complex tasks.

In Anrel, the word “magick” is preferred when referring to the “true magick” of thaumaturgy, but to the layperson, all these arts are considered magicka, although they achieve their ends using very different means:

Thaumaturgy, also called Magistry, Elemental Mastery or “High Magick”, involves harnessing the power of incorporeal ethereal beings known as elementals, and instructing them to perform practical tasks. Thaumaturgy requires long years of study, in order to learn the languages and techniques used to instruct elementals. It also requires a vigorous understanding of the physical world and natural sciences, as well as a thorough moral grounding. To a skilled practicioner, thaumaturgy is a flexible and powerful art.

Theurgy, or god-magic, is achieved by appealing to a god-spirit, to intervene and carry out a particular action. Theurgical systems vary hugely depending on the god-spirit, or “deital”, but most are highly codified, requiring specific ritual actions to be carried out, such as incantations and sacrifice, to achieve a specific end. Because they are so codified, theurgical ritual magic is not very flexible. However it requires a minimal amount of training to produce powerful effects, and can be carried out by a practicioner with no knowledge or understanding of the principles of thaumaturgy.

While thaumaturgy and theurgy are both highly systematic, natural magic is the inborn ability of rare individuals to bond with and instruct elementals, initially on an unconscious level. The ability manifests at a young age, often at times of emotional stress, resulting in objects spontaneously moving, or flashes of light, sound or fire. Individuals with this ability are called luminates. Luminate individuals are believed to have been the founders of many cults and even world religionsplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigWorld religions

This is a list of the major religious movements in the modern world, particularly those with an international influence.

topics beliefs cult1.

Physick is the art of combining mundane or exotic substances, such as metals, salts, ores or herbs, to create a particular effect. A compass, for example, is an everday product of the physickal art, which seems magical to the common mind, despite being unrelated to thaumaturgy. Physick therefore encompasses many arts, including herbalism, optics and metallurgy. Physick can also be combined with thaumaturgy to produce complex effects, such as delivering medicine to internal organs, or complex chemical transformations.

Conjuring, or prestidigitation, is the most commonly understood form of magic, meaning the use of manually dexterity and sleight of hand to perform an illusion. Conjuring is practiced mostly by street entertainers, who are perhaps the only ones to use the word “magick” with relish, but is also used by pickpockets, thieves and other insalubrious persons to extort money from the gullible.

Shamanic magic creates a feeling of religious awe through a variety of techniques: ritual exercise, dance, herbs, potions, sounds and mechanical illusions. It combines religious philosophy with physick, and sometimes an element of conjuring illusion, to inspire and increase a sense of religious ecstacy. Shamanic magic is particularly used by tribal societies to provide ritual rights of passage, to promote social cohesion through group ritual, and to demonstrate and legitimise the powers of a priestly elite.

The religions of the Junda, Gaal and Veedormim are examples in recent history of highly institutionalised shamanic magic.

The Gnostician School of Rasia theorised that tribal shamanic magic often evolved into theurgy by attracting the attention of unbound elementals.