Fundamentals of Magic | Definitions, Principles and Types of Magic

[@TheNeighborhoodZenPriest]

Thank you for another interesting and inspiring video! Regarding the dichotomy magic: Within Buddhist Folk Magic, we in general interpret whether or not a spell or such is constructive or destructive (black or white) based on its overall intent, not the structure or the nature of the spell itself or its outcome. It is quite similar to the Buddhist concept of Karma in that way; if we unintentionally step on a worm when we are out walking then it will not generate any negative Karma, but if we do it intentionally then it will. Also, within Buddhist Folk Magic, we still almost always invoke spirits or Bodhisattvas. Perhaps this is a point of difference between the two traditional systems so to speak.

[@TheOakWitch]

Very interesting! I really appreciate you sharing your perspective, thank you!

[@TheNeighborhoodZenPriest]

@@TheOakWitch Thank you! I do hope that neither you or anyone else in the community interpret it as me, a Zen Buddhist priest, butting in where I do not belong or trying to promote my path above that of others. I've simply identified quite many similarities between the heather/pagan/traditional practice of the West with that of Esoteric Buddhism and I'm interested in exploring it further. I intend nothing but respect with my words and engagement 🙏

[@LavenderHazelwood]

Love how you broke down the complex nature of Beneficial and Baneful magick. True words. xo, Aurora

[@makenapearce8318]

This was so helpful as a beginner. Ive been researching here and there for years but haven’t actually started anything yet, and I havent been able to find something as useful as this. Ive always known to cleanse something due to previous connections it might hold, but actually putting a name to WHY that is is so helpful and makes me feel like I finally have those missing pieces that made me feel like I didnt fully understand the concepts of magic or had enough confidence to actually practice it. So put together and thoughtful, thank you for this video. I wish I found you sooner!

[@lexdysic5207]

It is inspiring to see how people out there still understand how to use their tools well. It begins with understanding as accurately as possible, the tools, the intent, the user, and the environment. I think your understanding of magic is on point 🙌 thank you

[@philmein121]

Girl ...!! You are an old soul in a very young body 👁️... I think you are amazing ..keep them video's coming ..!! Thank you and bless you 💖

[@kathleenroberts7972]

Wow! Lots and lots of info. Thank you!

[@FritsvanDoorn]

Very intetesting. It is so much. And you know it all. Wonderful

[@BeverleyButterfly]

Another amazingly researched and wonderfully explained video thank you so much for sharing your knowledge xx

[@TheOakWitch]

Thank you Beverley!

[@BeverleyButterfly]

@@TheOakWitch my husband listened to this while drumming in the garage yesterday and loved learning more about my practice and how many different ways to practice there are xx

[@martianram]

thank u so much ! i desperately need a witchcraft dictionary or something bc i really want to get the definitions right so this video helped a lot

[@JB-og8gn]

I don’t know what it is but I really love your energy ♥️

[@NeonPossum]

This is such an excellent video! Thank you once again for sharing your knowledge :)

[@nancyagrimes]

Excellent video. That was most helpful. I just got a copy of - The Kybalion - which has been in queue for reading, but I think after watching your video, now is a great time to start that read.

[@Stickfissh]

Yes. Thank you!

[@mssheilapiper5079]

This is soooo helful!

[@rebekahbaker3981]

I love your account so much. your videos are so helpful and informative. ♡

[@DishyLemon]

Always helpful

[@DragonKingZero]

To paraphrase Kurzgesagt: "A special phenomenon which allows us to modify physics". Also, it took me 2 whole minutes to realize that this was not the fiction-writing/worldbuilding video I thought it was. Just thought you should know.

[@violetmoonofthenorth]

Could you do a possible tarot deck collection tour.. or incense collection and uses? Love your videos very educational 🧡

[@TheOakWitch]

I do actually have a tarot deck collection video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6qbpaKKptikfrc I'll add an incense video to my list of videos to make! Thank you 😊

[@violetmoonofthenorth]

@@TheOakWitch awsome thank you!

[@eudaimoniapodcast8309]

Thanks for all of this!!! I am a "baby witch" (hate the term but haven't found a good alternative that isn't demeaning or infantilizing). In any case, I think of magic as coweaving with the universe/cosmic consciousness/godex, source, spirit, etc. Finding patterns and threads in the universe and working with these threads intentionally. I am AuDHD and highly attuned to patterns and feel that my neurodivergence informs my witchcraft and my capacity to sense and work with magic/the web of life. Not to say I am special, I think everyone has this capacity...you just have to pay attention. :)

[@Alkazetzer]

what's the book there on the shelf on sigils and symbolism?

[@TabithaReminiec3399]

Oak Witch : What about the "Gray Magick" as a description for the combination of both types of magick ?

[@TheOakWitch]

Yeah a lot of people use that instead and I would say that's valid!

[@rosethorn7923]

The idea of gendered energy is something that I do disagree with. I know that most people don't mean anything bad by it! And I understand that many people make the caveat of, it's not necessarily tied to human gender. But, then why are these energies described to line up exactly with existing gender stereotypes? Even if it were true, then it just doesn't make sense to use the terms "masculine" and "feminine" at all. In my own practice I use active and passive to mean something similar, but not identical. Honestly, masculine and feminine seems to be a way of taking many different binaries (action vs influence, protecting vs nurturing, rigid vs soft, knowledge vs intuition...) and packaging them all under one idea. Where I do see value in the idea of masculine vs feminine in witchcraft, it's as archetypes. Archetypes are something humans and society create together, and they have enormous importance, certainly. But they aren't inherent to the nature of the world. When we talk about the divine feminine and masculine, for instance, these are the ideal, the most enlightened and beneficial versions of the archetypes. But I don't believe that all energy can be labeled as either masculine or feminine (or a mix of the two).

[@TheOakWitch]

You're totally valid in your perspective and thank you for sharing your thoughts! I, personally, fully agree with you and this is my way of thinking too. I don't see energy as masculine or feminine, but I do understand the symbolism behind it which comforts many. It doesn't really do much for me and I'd rather not engage in gendered concepts and enforce those gender "norms". But it is equally valid for those who do enjoy general gendered symbolism! To each their own, at the end of the day 😊

[@BlackDoomsOpinion]

@@TheOakWitch The fact that you said "I'd rather not engage in gendered concepts and enforce those gender "norms"." shows you don't understand the concept.

[@BlackDoomsOpinion]

"Masculine" and "feminine" has to do with duality, not gender. So your active and passive is the same idea. Masculine is yang, active, positive, warm, day, and the sun, feminine is yin, passive, negative, cold, night, and the moon. You want to bring harmony and balance between the two.

[@rosethorn7923]

@@BlackDoomsOpinion if the duality doesn't have anything to do with gender why use the words that are related to gender to describe them? I'm not opposed to a duality I just don't see the point in using gendered terms.

[@BlackDoomsOpinion]

@@rosethorn7923 I said masculine and feminine have to do with duality. The reason is that masculine and feminine are opposites... Like cold and hot, there are opposites to everything that's the point. The concept is like yin and yang. You don't have to use those terms.

[@hermit.masteroflight5970]

Hi Ari. Not only for beginners. Thank you for the great video. It was very informative 👍🙂

[@justinbirkholz]

My favorite way to practice is to create rituals that intentionally blur these lines and involve multiple categories of magic. Maybe that's just because I'm an intensely rebellious spirit but I find it impossible to follow someone else's path or stay within a tradition. For example, my Lunar Ceremonies involve sigils, candle magic, ceremonial implements and invocations, as well as techniques from folk magic, but its all written in explicitly Christian language and is very theurgical in nature.

[@oathboundsecrets]

I define magick (I like using this spelling I'm sorry) as an art form, a spiritual practice, of making change happen yes, by way of influence. Utilising the influence of the stars, plants, the spiritual force in all things, within the frame of animism.

[@TheOakWitch]

That's a beautiful definition 😊

[@joutavainen2920]

in my own practice i´ve noticed that i act in different ways when in nature and when in human societies. when in nature i´m not trying to change anything but more to fit in, flow with the balance of nature.. so it would be the opposite of changing type magic, more like caring, or unifying. but when i´m in human societies i´m definately using changing, reflecting or protection type magic, mostly to counteract the unnatural things that the society forces upon us (obviously i wouldn´t need to do that if the mainstream culture was healthy in any way). i´m not sure if that duplicity existed if the human cultures hadn´t gone so astray (at least looking from the naturist point of view). also i believe that many witches actually ARE one type of magic.. so instead of doing different kinds of magic you could be real good in one (be the physical manifestation of that type).

[@CDKohmy]

With healing magic, I cross-reference wort-cunning with our modern understandings, and other methods I reserve to mental healing rather than believe such things physically heal.

[@TheOakWitch]

That's grand! Yeah I myself do like taking old English folk magic practices, understanding the baseline principles and structure and adapting them to modern magical craft 😊 Still just as potent!

[@juliereminiec4937]

Ari, Traditional Witchcraft is how I'd describe folk magick I'm a natural storm witch

[@lionatheart42]

Ok, but your eyes are so pretty though! Deep brown eyes are so gorgeous!

[@TheOakWitch]

Thanks!

[@MaximusOfTheMeadow]

From a non-American, I don't really get the connection between voodoo and negative magic, or why that's immediately black magic Racist stereotyping maybe, do people still believe that? Just seems like a cultures magic to me

[@BlackDoomsOpinion]

The terms white and black magick aren't racist. Your reasoning is nonsense.