Magic Forums

I am not a Christian. However, I notice some of you are wondering how you can practice magic but still be a Christian. Since this seems to be a mainly Wiccan forum, I thought the information I'm posting now may be new to most of you.

I practice a form of magic known as Hermeticism, and use medieval grimoires like the Ars Goetia. This involves making summoning circles, burning incense, chanting spiritual commands, etc. This is magic as it has been practiced for the last few hundreds of years, and almost every magical order extant today is based on it - Wicca is one of the few exceptions.

The important thing to know about Hermeticism and grimoire magic is that God plays a very large part in them. Most of the magicians who made these grimoires and developed Hermetic philosophy were Christians themselves. All the spiritual authority the magician has is supposed to come from God. When doing the rituals, one often calls upon God; verses from the Bible are sometimes used, as are the Names of God; and the Hermetic magician is, in fact, supposed to strive to unite him or her self with God - that is the ultimate goal.

It is said that King Solomon, from the Bible, practiced this sort of magic. One common idea is that while normal Christianity is good for most people, some few are called to receive another, secret wisdom from God, through the practice of magic. As I said, I'm not a Christian, and I view the references to God through a different paradigm; but know that if you are a Christian, you are in good company, magically speaking.