I’ve been brainstorming with friends recently about the nature of magic- what it is, how it works, and the boons and dangers that come with using it. After ten years of practice, this is the best explanation I’ve been able to put into type.

---

What we call Magic is a phenomenon that exists in a grey area between Objective and Subjective reality. Subjective reality is yours- the sensations and states of being that make your life what it is, independent of others’ perceptions of it.

Objective reality is, of course, measurable. It can be proven, observed, collated. Sometimes there are gaps in our understanding of “objective” reality, though, and people fill those in with a sort of blend of subjective experiences, stories, and good-enough science. This is known as Consensus Reality.

Magic is the balancing opposite to Consensus Reality. The folklorists call it Intersubjectivity. It takes those gaps in understanding and fills them in with narratives and structures of belief that, rather than being a mere bandage on the face of the Objective, become useful tools that allow us to directly manipulate the Subjective.

So, when we perform magic, we’re choosing to use one of those not-quite-objective, not-quite-subjective structures. Sometimes our brain chooses one for us, and we become convinced that there is an objective version of magic- that magic can only work a certain way, and anyone who isn’t doing it that way is doing it Wrong.

There are a lot of different expressions of those systems of belief and magical working- often called “modalities”, but they fall mostly into four categories, or models, in my experience:

The Psychological model, which sees magic as an expression of one’s inner, mental operation, enacting complex placebos and internal manipulation to effect change in your own behavior, and by extension the world.

The Spiritual model, which sees magic as the domain and righful property of a series of spiritual entities who can be invoked or implored for favor to effect change in circumstances.

The Natural model, which holds that magic is an innate property of the world around us, and knowledge of the specific properties of magical materials is necessary for magic to work.

And finally the Energetic model, which holds that magic is a cosmic force that can be attuned to and channeled through a magus who trains enough to do so.

In order to be a well-rounded and effective magician, I’ve found that it’s necessary to accept that each of the models is true in their own right, and all of them fall short of explaining exactly what magic is.

---

If you enjoy my work, consider donating on ko-fi? It helps keep this magical boat afloat. Thanks!