Magic vs. Magick

Magic as defined by Webster’s Dictionary: a power that allows people (such as witches and wizards) to do impossible things by saying special words or performing special actions.

Magic: what is it?  It has been described as many things: miracles, curses, hexes, alchemy, and knowledge.  All to some extend are true and the answer will greatly depend on whom you ask.  For the most part magic through the years has had a negative connotation with it and that is because it was closely associated with witches: a group of people who were persecuted, tormented, and murdered throughout history because of their different beliefs.  It is only through recent advancements such as Harry Potter or Kiki’s Delivery Service that the view of witches has begun to change.   

However, there is a fact about the word magic that I did not find in the books.  While discussing Wicca (a religion that is closely associated with use of magic) with a High Priestess I am acquainted with, she asked if I was aware of the different spellings of the word magic.  Upon hearing that I was not, she went on to explain. 

“Magic is what is known as parlor tricks or deceptions.  Magick – also sometimes spelled Magik – is the embodiment of energy cast within a spell.” 

By learning this, I have discovered that a new level to the word magic and it helps to better define it.  There are different spellings of the word with different meanings, though they are frequently confused for one another.  And knowing the difference may help give a better understanding when viewing the word in historical or modern settings.   

Burt, Miss. V. Personal interview. 1 Sept. 2013.

Surgeons, Stars, & So Much More....

Jessica Morales
Blog Post #1

Ah where to begin with the topic of magic.... With all the topics being covered; I wanted to talk about some of the readings with did from Kieckhefer. Throughout chapter 6, there was a strong emphasis on the use of astronomy and horoscopes. On pages 120-122, it stated "The most basic use of astrology was in making horoscopes, which would indicate the influence that the stars and planets had on a person at birth or at any other juncture in life.....Astrology had implications for medicine. A surgeon or barber- surgeon was supposed to know which signs of the zodiac governed which parts of the body, because it was dangerous to operate or bleed a patient when the wrong constellation was dominant." I thought that this definitely showed the emphasis that magic was an active role. The barber and or surgeon was definitely capable of performing such surgery, yet he did not act upon it because he or she knew it might not have been a good idea to go against the stars. It also revealed how much this magic and even simple things like astrology took apart in a big role in their lives at the time.