According to Aleister Crowley, famed occultist and atheist, ‘magick’ is “a term used to show and differentiate the occult from performance magic and is defined as “the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will.” While many so-called magicians are simply ‘illusionists’, Crowley practiced ‘magick’ which he considered a true ability to manipulate our surroundings and cause them to adapt with our own willpower. Here are a few descriptions and remarks about ‘magick’ from those who practice it.

*Magick is recognizing that you already possess the resources needed to do whatever you need to do. We don’t need to worship someone or something, read just one more book, attend just one more class. Sure, living magickly requires practice and dedication, but I believe we only need to look deeply within rather than to external saviors.

*The science of the control of the secret forces of nature.

*Magick is living in balance with the flow of life, and knowing that you are a vital force within that flow. Magick is everywhere! In the trees, rain, stars, and in the sea. It is the spark that quickens a seed to rise up from the soil.

*With magick you can create your dreams, heal your world, love your life and find the peace that lives in every human heart.

Wicca is, by their own acknowledgement, a pagan religion. Wiccans practice witchcraft, and ‘magick’ is a major part of their practice. Personally, I once dealt with a husband and wife who were both Wiccan priests. When I mentioned the existence of God to them, they replied that God is everywhere and in everything. The husband pointed out that his chair was part of God, his floor, his house, every animate and inanimate was part of God. When I would speak of the Lord Jesus, they would politely listen as if they were in possession of some great knowledge of which I knew nothing about. So they would patronize me as I spoke of the Lord and Christ as our savior, but they had no ear for the truth!

We have the words of the Lord in Isaiah 42:8, “I AM THE LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Throughout the scriptures, we see over and over that God is a person. He is a divine person. It is God that has to power to manipulate our surroundings. Only God can control nature. He can do that because He is the creator of the world and nature. Let’s consider this incident in Matthew 8:23-27, “And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THAT, THAT EVEN THE WINDS AND THE SEA OBEY HIM!” The disciples were amazed that the Lord Jesus could speak and nature would obey Him. The use of ‘magick’ by any practitioner of it, teaches that THEY themselves have the power to manipulate nature, thus declaring themselves to be gods.

The Lord warned His people against occult practices in Deuteronomy 18:9-12, “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.” (NKJV) Causing a son or daughter to “pass through the fire” was a common practice of the occult at that time. We could spend much time pointing out many verses in the Bible that warn us to stay away from those things that are part of the occult or sorcery. However, let’s end this meditation with a serious warning found in Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and SORCERERS, and IDOLATERS, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (272.4)