Lessons in Magic IV: Basic Sorcery

Most of contemporary magical practice is represented by various forms of sorcery– the thaumaturgical practice of sympathetic magic, or in plain English, the use of symbolic items and ritual pantomimes together. The basic idea is that these rituals encode a certain set of circumstances into the magician’s will, or into the universe, and by acting them out on a small scale, they will ripple out into the larger world to create desirable change.

Those following the psychological model may compare it to placebo; natural and energetic magicians may attribute the effect to the relationship between all things, bound together in the ether; spiritual magicians are likely to thank their spirit allies for the help. Regardless, countless magicians rely on sorcery for the more practical aspects of their craft.

So how is it done? I attribute the simplest and most efficient model I have ever learned– one which I still use today!– to F.C. Windvexer, a little-known but highly pragmatic writer of magical theory. Their model essentially states that all the world is alive and listening, and if you are willing to have a conversation with your implements and ingredients, the world will respond in kind.

To perform sorcery of this kind, a physical object or ingredient, such as:

• saltwater,
• twine,
• beeswax

…is verbally instructed to hold a symbolic or energetic ingredient, such as:

• moonlight
• a certain number of incantations
• flame

This requires no special language, ‘thees’ or ‘thous,’ and no extensive preparations– just a simple set of instructions, as though addressed to a coworker.

The energetic ingredient is similarly instructed to be held by the physical. Then, the two are ritually introduced, and a state change occurs:

• the saltwater is left overnight in the moonlight
• the incantations are ‘tied’ into the twine
• the beeswax is melted over flame

Then, in an equally conversational tone, the spell is informed of its purpose, and how it will perform it.

• “Water and earth will purify me, scouring my skin as clean and pure as moonlight.”
• “When each knot is undone in a time of strife, the incantation will be set free, and fly away to fulfil its duty.”
• “The soothing warmth of flame and wax will spread over this place, and all spirits of enmity will fall deeply asleep.”

And that’s all that you need! Any spell can be performed with a modicum of competence, by simply asking your ingredients to work together, lending their unique strengths to your purpose. No fanciness is required, but nor is the all-important feeling of mystical, resonant power sacrificed.

All the world is alive and listening, and it loves you! Sin joyously, star-spawn.

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