Every now and then, someone barges into the chat room and asks..here's your answer. Give or take. ^-^
Is Magic Real - and If It Is, Why Doesn't Everyone Do It?
This is another one of those questions that people will often provide different answers to. Some folks will tell you that if you don't believe in it, it's not real. Others will say it's real, but it's a tool of the Devil/Satan/MyLittlePony so you shouldnt use it. Only you can decide for yourself.
The best way to determine whether magic is real is to experiment a little bit. Try some spell work, write down your results, keep track of what happens. Just like any other skill set, it will take some practice. If you don't get results the first time, keep trying. Remember the first time you tried to ride a bike, or your first attempt at baking a cake? It probably wasn't good - but you tried again, didnt you?
Often, people show up at Wiccan and Pagan events and announce "I'm a 'natural witch', oh yes I am, look at me!" but they can't cast their way out of a paper bag because they haven't put any effort into learning about it. Like any other ability, practice is what makes you good. Learn, study, research, and grow. Skill is a combination of study and experience blended together.
Okay, so the big question is, If magic is real, why doesn't everyone do it?
In a way, a lot of people do but don't realize it. Do you ever make a wish and blow out your birthday candles? Cross your fingers for good luck? Pray that you'll get an A on a math test? Some people might consider that magic.
As to Why, look at it this way. Not everyone rides roller coasters. Not everyone cooks from scratch. Not everyone likes to wear Hello Kitty t-shirts. For some people, it's simply a matter of preference. In many cases, it's a matter of not believing. If you don't believe in magic, or if you think that it only exists in the realm of Harry Potter and the movies, then why bother trying to learn it? After all, it's fiction, right? For other people, there's a perception that magic is evil. In some religions, any power that doesn't come from God is considered bad.
The bottom line is that people have a choice - for whatever reason, not everyone chooses to live a magical life. That's their decision, based on their wants, beliefs, needs, and imagination, and they're entitled to make that choice.