What Is It Capable Of? Options

I'm relatively new to the serious study of magick. I've been reading some of the works of Aleister Crowley, Gerald del Campo, and other thelemists. After reading about thelema, I'm left with the distinct impession that magickal workings are, in practice, essentially useless. All of the claims of "magickal" happenings seem to be spiritual and introverted in nature. They seem to be a means to better understand one's self, much like buddhist forms of philosophy and mysticism. Here is what I want to know: What are the actualy practical applications of magick? Is it possible for magick to effect dramatic, tangible change in a subject outside of the practitioners own mind? What kind of changes can be observed?

After reading about thelema, I'm left with the distinct impession that magickal workings are, in practice, essentially useless.

All of the claims of "magickal" happenings seem to be spiritual and introverted in nature.

These two statements next to one another suggest a lack of spirituality in your perspective, if I may offer my own take on it. I could be wrong. ultimately, though, you're going to die, right? Probably, anyway. So, what will you take with you aside from your spiritual developement...? Material gain is temporary, but spiritual knowledge is the gateway to immortality.

What are the actualy practical applications of magick? Is it possible for magick to effect dramatic, tangible change in a subject outside of the practitioners own mind? What kind of changes can be observed?

Magick is mastery over the will's ability to manifest. The possibilities are litterally endless, and they expand as you progress. Originally my will could manifest a good night's sleep, intelligent thought, creative inspiration. Then I grew, and it was able to manifest synchronicity in my life. I grew some more, learned to suspend my sense of reason for moments at a time, and my will was able to manifest changes in weather, change a stop light from red to green prematurely, or channel inspiration to another. Lately I've been able to influence my own causal current to intersect with clients for my practice, meaningful lessons in the world around me, and open me up to new areas of my consciousness.

I've seen people change moods instantly with just a little energy, I've seen headaches disappear, a torrent of rain stop at a word, a dry day turn into a stormy one in under an hour, a barrier that prevented anyone with ill intentions from entering an ashram, a toothpick roll uphill on a tilted desk at the exertion of my will power. I've seen lots of things subtle and physical. I haven't witnessed what most would call a miracle, but then again, maybe I have and just didn't notice.

All of those things, and the accomplishments I have personally wrought, are pointless beyond proving that my consciousness and the world around me are not as seperate as I was trained to believe after i was born. The value of that understanding is beyond any other ability, even turning base metals into gold.

Of course, that's my own perspective, and others are more materially centered. There's no way to prove who's got the right idea and who doesn't, and really, it doesn't matter. Your own journey, what you learn from it, what you put into it, how it affects your ability to live life, that's all that matters.

peace

I've seen people change moods instantly with just a little energy, I've seen headaches disappear, a torrent of rain stop at a word, a dry day turn into a stormy one in under an hour, a barrier that prevented anyone with ill intentions from entering an ashram, a toothpick roll uphill on a tilted desk at the exertion of my will power. I've seen lots of things subtle and physical. I haven't witnessed what most would call a miracle, but then again, maybe I have and just

Ok. This is what I'm trying to clarify. All of those phenomena you described can be explained through mundane means or coincidence, except perhaps the barrier preventing people from entering a room based on their intentions. How do you know that what you experienced is not simply the result of coincidence? How do you know that magick caused it?

Bear in mind that I'm not trying to say that you're wrong. I'm just asking these questions so that I can better understand the subject. It's very difficult for me to accept things without a logical explanation. I question everything I see. I abandoned christianity because of it's illogical nature. I don't want to jump feet first into a new illogical dogma. I want to know what I'm getting into.