Encouraging Magical Concepts

Serpent

Encouraging Magical Concepts

Lydia Gage

Children love magic. Who can’t remember using “magical wands” and goofy nonsense words to invoke one’s will as a child? I certainly can, and would bet most people, especially Satanists, tinkered with magic as children—or at least what they thought were magical concepts gleaned eagerly from various mediums. Why wouldn’t we have naturally taken a shot at calling forth whatever magical powers-that-be, to attain our “truest” wishes?! You want something and don’t have it—you perform a ritual or “spell” and get it. Simple. Of course, as children, we usually had to pretend to see our results—and our magical methods as well. Sometimes, perhaps. But as adults we understand the roots of our magical desires, the psychology and methodology of magic; and we can now apply all of these to attain our will effectively, more so I’d venture than the concentration of our youthful fickleness would have allowed. But perhaps not always. For the power of magic springs from our strongest desires-dreams, goals, wishes-not methodological knowledge and intellect. Seeing as how one of our major components of magic is mental projection (imagery), one can begin to understand how a child’s imagination (plus desire) makes the perfect breeding ground for basic magical skills. Now, I’m not suggesting that they are quite ready for an in-depth ritual, or even understanding the process of magic-which is not important in magical applications of course. On the contrary, I don’t think children can completely comprehend that, yet. But they can surely grasp the simplistic beauty and personal fulfillment of magic if and when it is pointed out to them. There is yet a gray area when it comes to deciding at what point and level a child should have any involvement with the Satanic religion. Whereas other religions are fully allowed to indoctrinate their children with any beliefs and ceremonies, Satanists seem to have the tendency (common sense?) to allow their offspring the freedom of (and FROM!) religion of any kind. Yet we may certainly allow our progeny the Satanic reign they may request.

…one of our major components of magic is (imagery), a child’s imagination (plus desire) makes
the perfect breeding ground for
basic magical skills.”

My daughter constantly badgers me on the topic of magic. Knowing that she and I are both witches, she continuously asks me to “teach her magic.” So I came up with a fun “ritual” which she can perform before bedtime that is simple and effective for her—and has relieved some of the badgering. When she reaches a maturity level that will enable her to see further possibilities of her inner power, I may offer her more, Satan willing . . .

The major premise of the “spell” is the sharpening of her concentration and mental projection: seeing the imagery of one’s desires using the shadow box of the mind and concentrating of these, and upon how one may go about obtaining them, as well as seeing oneself with the “goods”—victorious. I asked my daughter to get me her little leather pouch which I had bought for her that summer at the Bristol Renaissance Fair in Wisconsin (one of those “living theater” amusement fairs, or semi-Total Environments, with a romantic knights and damsels setting—moreso than an authentically historical one).

At any rate, my daughter procured the pouch, and I had her help me fill it with a potpourri of which she was fond. Then I told her that before bed every night, when she was alone or any time she wanted to, for that matter, she could take the pouch and picture in her mind what it was that she wanted. Then, concentrating very hard, think about different ways she could achieve it, and while thinking on it, she ought breathe in the aroma of the potpourri. When finished, I told her to go to sleep and try to dream about her desires; that this is a form of magic. Not only does she think this is really neat and a special secret between witches, but she says that she has, in fact, dreamed about her wishes. She told me that even if she doesn’t get what she wanted, she feels better after having had her “ritual.”

Once after napping, I awoke to find the living room clean, a basket of laundry folded (well, folded as best a five year old can) and my daughter smiling at me, asking, “Well?” After praising her, I handed her a sucker. Her reply, “Thanks Mom, my spell just worked.” She said that her ritual was to get candy, and she thought that if she was nice and cleaned up for me, she might get some. Well, I was going to give her a sucker anyway. But I especially appreciated the interpretation of her magical application—not to mention the cleaning! Of course, this has strengthened her belief in her own abilities—no matter how small the spell may seem and no matter how much of a stretch the word “magic” encompasses. The point is, she has a greater conception of the meaning of magic and, in retrospect, has a new tool for her accomplishments. And let’s not forget about the fun!

Shemhamforash!

This essay is copyrighted © by Lydia Gage, 1995 c.e. and may not be reproduced without permission.

(reprinted from the Fall/Winter XXX issue of Satanic Parenting)

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