What are the natural laws of magic?

Everything pretty much follows natural law, right? Rabbits give birth to baby rabbits, not ducklings. Trees don’t uproot themselves and walk. Anything mortal has a birth and death. And a multitude of other natural laws.

It will take a crazy amount of ability to compel a tree to walk, but I’m sure that it’s possible. As magicians, we can affect how strongly things adhere to natural law.

But are there natural laws to magic? If so, what would they be?

[quote=“Salpinx, post:1, topic:6088”]Everything pretty much follows natural law, right? Rabbits give birth to baby rabbits, not ducklings. Trees don’t uproot themselves and walk. Anything mortal has a birth and death. And a multitude of other natural laws.

It will take a crazy amount of ability to compel a tree to walk, but I’m sure that it’s possible. As magicians, we can affect how strongly things adhere to natural law.

But are there natural laws to magic? If so, what would they be?[/quote]

There’s a whole book outlining metaphysics,known as the Kybalion.

[url=http://marjadevries.nl/universelewetten/kybalion.pdf]http://marjadevries.nl/universelewetten/kybalion.pdf[/url]

I believe that that link is completely legal.The book is old,so I highly doubt that downloading it would cause copyright stuff to happen.

I imagine RHP magicians would considers laws things like keeping a particular order of things, like not manipulating anothers will, not messing with the weather, things of that sort. Because they too consider those things to be messing with the natural order. Just as a tree is not intended to walk, maybe the person telling you no was not intended to tell you yes and by placing them under a spell to make them say yes instead, you are messing with their beliefs and intentions which is essentially messing with their natural order and messing with natural order of the universe by making something happen that was not intended to happen. I used to consider myself an eclectic witch and was a member of a few wiccan websites so I heard them say stuff like that all the time in addition to the wicca creed they also followed. What I just said is NOT my belief, but what I have heard RHP magicians say.

As for black magicians and LHP, I think most of us probably don’t recognize any natural orders because think about it, black magicians are labeled as “black” because we are not normally against using magick for selfish gain, cursing, altering our futures, etc. and if you are comfortable with doing those things and not giving a fuck if there really are repercussions for your actions like karma or similar things then obviously you don’t care about the natural order or laws of nature as you are willing to alter that order, in order to make your life perfect as you see fit. So I think most LHP and black magicians would not recognize or adhere to any natural laws or orders as it would seem to be hypocritical of what most of us believe.

Did that make sense? I know what I want to say, but I feel like that just came out all wrong and confusing.

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Reading the Kybalion now, but also checking for modern day interpretations of its principles. I came across this argument against taking the book seriously: [url=http://www.nickfarrell.it/kybalion/]http://www.nickfarrell.it/kybalion/[/url] Thoughts, anyone?

@RavensAscent Let me see if I understand correctly: there are laws of nature, though RHP does not condone manipulating it or circumventing it, while LHP doesn’t see why we shouldn’t. Is that what you meant?

Yes that’s what I meant Salpinx.

But his arguments are skewed - “Principle of Mentalism: While I can accept that the Universe is all mind, I can’t accept that is all there is. A mind, or consciousness, is definable. It has rules which can define it. Yet there must equally be an infinite part of god which can only be defined by what it is not – and it would NOT be mind. If Thoth is an expression of the Divine Mind, he emerged from the UNKNOWABLE darkness.”

I’ve bolded how he’s set up a trap to prove things wrong - by his very own use of that mind.

Okay champ, you go with that one!

It’s like if, you handed me a proven magic stick and said “Eva, anything you wish with this stick, will come true” and my FIRST thought was “There can be no such thing as magic sticks.”

I mean when you approach the universe AS IF it was a giant mind etc., and the LoA is valid, it works, so to add on a layer of “And now, I say it is unknowable” - by the very laws OF the Kybalion, you’re going to fuck yourself up!

Also, he says for example “Evolution is not rhythmic.” - no, but it obeys Cause & Effect.

But honestly I’m too tired to do this, also to be honest the book needs no defense, just try it out and intelligent inquisition of its rules, etc.

Suck it and see. :wink:

I’d skimmed the book on separate occasions but this is the first time I am reading it front to back. I’ll form an opinion as I get through this. In the meantime, I welcome the thoughts of people who have already gotten through the book. I know you’re big on the Kybalion Lady E, I was hoping you would weigh in. Glad you did. :slight_smile:

One opinion I’ve formed already of the book, and it’s that personally the antiquated wordiness is hard for my brain to digest. I get that it was just the fashion of the times to use 20 4+ syllable words to say what we today would convey in 5 simple words. So I looked online for modern day interpretations, but no luck. I’ll get through this book for sure. It’ll just take a while.

Still reading the book. Ah, so is the Kybalion where the Law of Attraction concept originates? If so, is the New Age concept of LoA and The Secret a reiteration of the Kybalion concept of LoA, or are they completely unrelated?

And I assume that the laws discussed in the Kybalion are universally applicable, regardless of the path, system or magical beliefs you practice?

No you nailed it, they originated there and the concept was the foundation of something originally called New Thought, then Science Of Mind, those all have wikipedia pages with info in the leading lights etc. :slight_smile:

And I assume that the laws discussed in the Kybalion are universally applicable, regardless of the path, system or magical beliefs you practice?

They seem to be, though of course they’re observations about things and not necessarily the only rules applicable - I believe that dynamism, the speed and determination with which one approaches any magickal craft, skill, or study, is a factor in how successful you’ll be, but that’s arguably covered by the Law Of Vibration - that the eagerness and determination of the student increases their results.

The Laws of Magic/Majik etc.

The Laws of Magic are not legislative laws, but, like those of physics or musical harmony, are actually fairly practical observations that have been accumulated over thousands of years. These laws describe the way magic seems to behave.

The LAW OF KNOWLEDGE
This is probably the most widely used law, and probably encompasses all the others in some way. The basis of this law is that understanding brings control. The more that is known about a subject, the easier it is to excercise control over it. Knowledge is power.

The LAW OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE
An obvious derivative of the LAW OF KNOWLEDGE, this law carries additional connotations, as a mage who does not have knowledge of himself does not have knowledge (and therefore control) of his own magic. This law is one of the reasons “evil” mages are very rare—a dedication to “evil for evil’s sake” is usually due to a lack of introspection and awareness of oneself. It is difficult to do harm to others when you understand fully what that kind of harm would do to you. Know thyself.

The LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT
A simple scientific understanding—if exactly the same actions are done under exactly the same conditions, they will be associated with exactly the same results. Magicians have at least as much belief in cause and effect as modern physicists do, they just realize that a good ritual, like a good theatrical performance or a good bread recipe, isn’t always predictable. In truth, a spell involves so many variables, that controlling or even understanding them all is impossible. The key to magical success is learning which variables are the most important, and how to keep them constant. Control over the variables is icing on the cake.

The LAW OF SYNCHRONICITY
Two or more events happening at the same time are likely to have more in common than the merely temporal. Very few events ever happen in isolation from other events. There is no such thing as a mere coincidence.

The LAW OF ASSOCIATION
If any two pattern have elements in common, the patterns interact “through” those common elements, and control of one pattern facilitates control of the other(s) depending (among other factors) upon the number of common elements involved. This is a very important law, up there with the LAW OF KNOWLEDGE.

The LAW OF SIMILARITY
Having an accurate physical or mental representation of something facilitates control over it. This one is fairly obvious in its usage—having a model, picture, or other representation of your target (like a voodoo doll) gives you power to effect the target. Look alikes are alike.

The LAW OF CONTAGION
Objects or beings in physical contact with each other continue to interact after separation. Everyone you have ever touched has a magical link with you, though it is probably pretty weak unless the contact was intense and/or prolonged or repeated frequently. Magical power is contagious. Naturally, having a part of someone’s body (nails, hair, spit, etc.) gives the best contagion link.

The LAW OF NAMES
Knowing the complete and true name of an object, being, or process gives one complete control over it. This works because a name is a definition (yes, even “Harold”, “Marie”, “Kunte”, and “Jasmine” were at one time) as well as a contagion link, and an association (if you call something the same name over and over, that name becomes associated with the thing). This also works, because knowing the complete and true name of something or someone means that you have achieved a complete understanding of its or their nature. This is why, in most pre-industrial cultures, people are given “secret names”, as well as “public names”, and why the sharing of a secret name is such an act of trust—because the secret name is considered to be very close to, if not identical with, the person’s true name.

The LAW OF WORDS OF POWER
There exist certain words that are able to alter the internal and external realities of those uttering them, and the power may rest in the very sounds of the words as much as their meanings. Many of such words are names, though the meanings may have been lost or forgotten. Very many magical tools require words to be inscribed upon them and/or said over them during their construction and/or use.

The LAW OF PERSONIFICATION
Any phenomenon may be considered to be alive and to have a personality—that is, to “be” an entity or being. Anything can be a person. Most weather mages personify the winds and the clouds, for example, and thus find focusing their magic on the atmosphere much easier to do.

The LAW OF INVOCATION
It is possible to establish internal communication with entities from either inside or outside oneself, said entities seeming to be inside of oneself during the communication process.

The LAW OF EVOCATION
It is possible to establish external communication with entities from either inside or outside oneself, said entities seeming to be outside oneself during the communication process.

The LAW OF IDENTIFICATION
It is possible through maximum association between elements of oneself and those of another being to actually become that being, to the point of sharing its knowledge and wielding its power. This is the law that controls most lengthy or permanent possession phenomena.

The LAW OF PERSONAL UNIVERSES
Every sentient being lives in and quite possibly creates a unique universe which can never be 100% identical to that lived in by another. So called “reality” is in fact a matter of consensus opinions. This law is nowhere near as obvious as the other laws in its applications, but if you can figure some out, you can use it.

The LAW OF INFINITE UNIVERSES
The total number of universes into which all possible combinations of existing phenomena could be organized is infinite. Anything is possible, though some things are more probable than others. You might consider this to refer to the “alternate probability worlds” of science fiction, but it also has a much wider application.

The LAW OF PRAGMATISM
If a pattern of belief or behavior enables a being to survive and to accomplish chosen goals, then that belief or behavior is “true” or “real” or “sensible”. If it works, it’s true. Another rather obscure law, but it does have some very useful applications.

The LAW OF TRUE FALSEHOODS
It is possible for a concept or act to violate the truth patterns of a given personal universe and still be “true”, provided that it “works” in a specific situation. If it’s a paradox, it’s still probably true. This law is basically useless, except to justify use of the above three laws without screwing things up in your version of the real world.

The LAW OF SYNTHESIS
The synthesis of two or more “opposing” patterns of data will produce a new pattern that will be truer than either of the first two were. That is, it will be applicable to more levels of reality, and this new pattern may not be a compromise, but may be something rather new indeed.

The LAW OF POLARITY
Any pattern of data can be split into (at least) two “opposing” characteristics, and each will contain the essence of the other within itself.

The LAW OF OPPOSITES
    A sub-law of POLARITY. The "opposite" of a pattern contains information about that pattern, by providing information on what the pattern is not. Thus, control over a pattern's opposite (or close to it's opposite) facilitates control over the pattern itself. (Note that this one I alone take the blame for, as it is my own extension of POLARITY and SIMILARITY)

The LAW OF DYNAMIC BALANCE
To survive, let alone to become powerful, one must keep every aspect of one’s universe in a state of dynamic balance with every other aspect. Extremism is dangerous, as the extreme being becomes so associated with the extreme aspect, that they lose the ability to avoid that aspect at all. This is another reason “evil” mages are rare, as continuous association with pain or death will cause a mage pain or death, ending the mage’s ability to continue actively with “evil”. This is also why “good” mages, especially healers, tend to live a long time.

The LAW OF PERVERSITY
Sometimes known as Murphy’s Law. If anything can go wrong, it will, and in the most annoying manner possible. Magical associations sometimes operate in the reverse of what was desired, and meaningful coincidences are just as likely to be unpleasant as pleasant. Even if nothing can go wrong, some element of the universe may change so that things will go wrong anyway. Whether we like it or not, the gods (or fates, or what have you) do have a sense of humor. Emotionally healthy mages have less problems with this law than others do, as the mage’s own subconscious mind is probably a major perpetrator of this law.

The LAW OF UNITY
Every phenomena in existence is linked directly or indirectly to every other one, past, present, or future. Perceived seperations between phenomena are based on incomplete sensing and/or understanding.

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Did you figure these out yourself, or are they from another source?

Source.

Please could you provide a link to the source, if possible. I’d be interested in finding out more.

I found the link :slight_smile:

[url=http://deoxy.org/lawsofmagic.htm]deoxy.org | E=±mc²=Thé Ðëòxÿríßøñµçlëìç HÿÞêrdïmèñsîøñ