The Ancient Powerhouses of Magic Earth for money and employment. Air for intelligence and travel. Fire for protection and courage. Water for love and healing Elemental magic exists to serve those of us in need. Through life-affirming, loving rituals we can create wondrous transformations. The power is resident in ourselves and within the Earth. Magic is a natural, positive practice that anyone can successfully perform. Few tools are required, and these are familiar: stones, candles, bowls of water and plants, and the powers of your mind. Natural magic carries within its practice an innate sense of wonder and respect for nature as manifested in the Earth and the Elements. This is real magic, forged with natural energies, charged with love and sent with the knowledge that a positive change will occur. Magic is as natural as the Earth, water, fire, and air, yes, even as natural as a blade of grass. Within its simple rites many have found answers to the multitued of challenges that life presents to them. Natural magic (the practice of using the forces of nature coupled with the powers of our minds and bodies) has always been part of the human experience. It still lives: in the midst of the endless prarie; beside a cypress-ringed bayou; in the sizzling desert; within the shadow of skyscrapers. Natural magicians work with Earth energy to transform themselves and their lives. In practicing natural magic, we attune with the earth. Far from being a lofty spiritual pursuit, magic is a means of joining with the Earth and of using our powers in common to create a brighter future for both ourselves and our planet. Walk lightly...breathe deeply...harm none...and discover the wonders that magic has to offer. Magical Techniques Energy Many think that magic involves marking cryptic signs, uttering incomprehensible words, walking backward around cracked stones and other such unusual actions. They believe that such things are the beginning and end of magic. In fact, such actions are the least important part of magic. They're meaningless unless they assist the magician in contacting energy in its many forms. Magic can, indeed, be performed by a person without movement, without touching physical tools, without even uttering a single word of power. For some, this is the most potent form of magic for it uses only the power of our minds and bodies. But this isn't natural magic. Although the energy used in magic stems from one universal source, there are various manifestations of it. Additionally, magical energy also exists in non-physical forms (indeed, this is the power used in religious rituals). These are the two types of energy used in natural magic: Personal Power Let's start at the beginning - you. You're already familiar with this source of magical power. You've felt it when you've run up a flight of stairs, watched an effective horror movie, grown angry, or felt submerged in love. This is personal power, the energy that stems from our physical bodies. When we're in good health, our bodies are capable of producing tremendous amounts of energy, as any athlete who's pushed past seemingly human limits will understand. This energy derives from the Earth, for our bodies transform food, sunlight, fresh air, and water into available power. Normally, we use this energy to maintain good health and for health and for such daily activities as exercise, work, sleep, study, thought, and sex - among other things. In magic, we transform some of this energy to other purposes. Personal power is raised (through tightening the muscles), focused with a goa (through visualization) and released to bring that goal into manifestation. This is a simple process, and isn't much different than focusing your attention toward studying all night, running a marathon, finishing a work of art, or writing a poem. The intent, if not the process, is the same: we direct energy toward sompleting a project. In magic, however, we consciously release this energy so that it can speed away to create the changes that we need. The method for doing this is discussed below. Personal power is usually released from the body through the projective hand. This is the hand used for writing; the right hand for most of us. If you're ambidextrous use either hand. Please note: the amount of energy released from the body during magic isn't so great that it will harm the magician's health. Earth Power The second source of magical energy springs from the Earth itself. Those of us who've admired a stand of trees, a field of wildflowers, a calm lake, or a cave have alreaday felt something of the energy that exists within the Earth. Magicians sense even greater amounts of energy within natural objects, and choose them (according to their forms) to act as magical batteries during rituals. These forms of natural tools include stones, plants, lakes, oceans, storms, winds, flame, and many others. Each possess separate, distinct types of energy suitable for specific magical changes. In natural magic, we join personal power with Earth power. This is done through certain rituals designed to create our needed changes. The type of change determines the form of Earth power used. We absorb Earth power (and all types of energy that don't originate within our bodies) through the receptive hand. This is the opposite of the projective hand described earlier. Earth power is divided into four main divisions: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These are the Elements. The Need or Goal No magic is performed without a need. This can be literally anything, from losing weight or finding a love, to passing a test and paying old bills. The need must be an all-consuming passion, not a fanciful wish. The need shouldn't be impossible to achieve. Performing rituals designed to make you fly in your physical body (without some sort of aircraft), marry a famous movie star (that you've never met), or win the lottery (when millions of others are attempting to do the same thing) will only bring you disappointment. So keep your need simple and attainable. If you do, you'll be blessed with success. Visualization This is an important part of every spell. Visualization is a natural process in which we create images in our minds. In magic, we create images of the need and banish all images of the problem. Our ability to visualize is one of the most important tools of magic. We're able to create (to see) the future in our minds. Creating images in the mind during magic give the power that we've raised a purpose and direction. Visualization is the steering wheel of magic. It ensures that the energy goes to the proper place. But many of us have difficulty with this process. This is why symbols, photographs, drawings and other tools are often used in natural magic to focus our concentration. These tools by themselves have little power. But used as focal points of concentration, they allow us to imprint the energy with a need, and to eventually steer the power to its destination. The Spell A spell is a magical ritual. It's usually non-religious in nature and often involves the use of symbols or symbolic actions and words. It's a specific series of movements, use of tools and inner processes (such as visualization) to create a specific manifestation. A spell is a spell is a spell. Old spells are no more effective than new spells. But to manifest your need, the spell must be designed to do three things: a) Raise personal power (and, in natural magic, to unite it with Earth power) b) Program this energy (through visualization) and c) Release the energy. A spell is truly magical only in the hands of a magician. Charging This is an aspect of natural magic. Charging is a process of sending personal power into a specific object or place (such as a tub of water, a candle, a leaf). To charge something, hold it in your projective hand, visualize your need, raise personal power (tighten those muscles until you tremble) and push the energy out of your body, through your projective hand, and into the object. It's that simple. Rules of Magic - Don't practice magic to annoy, irritate, harm, hurt or kill another person. - Don't practice magic that will bind, influence, manipulate or control another person. - Don't practice magic to try to win the love of a specific person. - Don't practice magic to try to win sexual favors from another person. - Don't sell your magic spells. - Don't practice magic to satisfy your ego. - Don't practice magic of any kind for another person (even if it's beneficial) without her or his consent.