Magick was defined by occultist Aleister Crowley as “the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will”, presumably by other than direct, obvious means. To differentiate true magic from stage prestidigitation, practitioners often elect to spell magick similarly to the Earaly Modern English derivation, as used in such works as the 1615 translation of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa’s De Occulta Philosophia, or The Books of Occult Philosophy.

In the late 19th century, James Frazier proposed that magick is primitive superstition, practiced by peoples whose belief in the efficacy of magick reflects an unenlightened grasp of scientific causality. Frazier concluded that science is the only correct and modern approbation of causality and that, in his opinion, magick could not conceivably work. In attempting to discredit magick in favor of science, Frazier unwittingly provided an hypothesis on why magick does work. James Frazier rationalized three objective laws of Sympathetic Magic and Contagion evoked by magick practitioners; operating within a cognitive or mental process that he called Aassociation. These Laws are the Law of Similarity, the Law of Contagion and the Law of Opposites.

Law of Similarity, or like causes like. By manipulating a symbol or simulacrum, the magus can use sympathetic magic to manipulate the thing it represents, causing analogous effects or changes to the target.

Law of Contagion, once contact has been established, a relationship is established. Contagion is the principle in operation when the magus uses personal items, such as locks of hair, nail parings, bodily fluids, or mundane personal objects with which the target is in frequent contact in order to affect the target in the desired manner; as with the fithfath or voodoo doll.

Law of Opposites, every action has an equal although opposite reaction. Also stated as O’Brien’s Law: Murphy was an optimist. If people only come by when your house is a mess, chose to avoid cleaning the house when lonely.

Magick works, if it works, because all things in existence, including all of us, exist in a continuum of interrelatedness. Whether we are connected through esoteric life-force energy or merely laws of probability, each action, each decision, creates a ripple effect, affecting other variables down an invisible line and is, therefore an act of magick. The Chinese have a proverb: the gently beating wings of the butterfly can cause a hurricane a world away. It is the wise mage who correlates the effect to the cause and uses it to the ultimate advantage.

Various types or forms of magick are believed to be extant including ceremonial or high magick, shamanic or low magick, healing spells, love spells and sex magick, battle magick, glamoury, and chaos magick including curses and hexes. Magick is sometimes characterized by color; black magick for spells of malefic intent, white for healing and nurturing, green for prosperity and the fertility of Nature and the natural environment, red for blood or sex magick; but not usually by experienced practitioners who do not consider themselves bound by the morality of the mundane. The compliment of spells within the context of fiction include such diverse feats as astral projection, glamour, healing, levitation, warding, projection of energy bolts, conjuring abstract entities of mystical items, binding, bestowing or ablating of powers or attributes, transmogrification, teleportation, reality manipulation and the like; but all spells, all magick, are in a sense a form of probability alteration.

Magick power can originate from any of myriad sources including the spellcaster’s innate ability to manifest magick through the utilization of gestures, spoken words or drawn or written sigils and reliant on the degree of physical stamina that the practitioner may withstand; extrinsic entities including patron gods or demons and principalities entreated for additional power; and, in the case of fiction, magickal items and artifacts. In addition, a number of plot devises have been exercised to enhance story arcs, including magick as a corrupting force and various mythological entities, weapons and settings.

In Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's Disease of Language graphic novel there is an interview section where Alan Moore explains the idea of Magic and how Crowley has effected his view of the world. To sum up the article: Crowley believed magic was a "Disease of Language", which can be summed up as Magic is just the manipulation of words. "Casting" a "SPELL" historically can be seen as the Shaman's setting up a grand statement of change, in which the path to completion would be "Spell"ed out. Magic is also know as Enchantments and Charms, both interchangeable for something that grabs are attention. As Shamans were storytellers in the past, writers today are like the Shamans of old. The application of Magick in writing is still withing the "the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will."

There are many forms of Magick

Astral travel

A very popular form of Magick. Also know as Astral projection (or astral travel) is an interpretation of any form of "Out of Body Experience" (OBE). Some people believe vivid dreams are a form of Astral projection.

Banishing

This is the rituals to try to remove unwanted "forces", "energies" or what have you that may interfere with a magical operation.

Consecration

A very important part of magic, it is the dedication of the ritual instruments and/or environment. The words "consecration" is still found to day in modern religions, such as the Roman Catholics who consume the "Eucharistic elements of bread and wine".

Divination

The most popular of all applied magic, divination is the practice of foreseeing the future. Many people do not realize that the Human Condition wants certainty and at times we look for answers in things like Horoscopes, Tarot Cards and I-Ching.

Sigil

A sigil is a symbol meant to have magical powers. Derived from the Latin word "sigillum", meaning "seal", it may also be related to the Hebrew word סגולה or "segulah" which means "word, action, or item of spiritual effect".

A sigil is normally made up of a combination of several specific symbols and/or geometric figures to create a complex combination, each separate symbol is like a cooking ingredient that has its own meaning and intent to contribute to the final symbol, which is the Sigil. Sigils have evolved where even a companies logo can be considered a Sigil, if its intent is for magical purposes

The Hypersigil is a term popularized by Grant Morrison, likely created by him since the earliest references in comics of a Hypersigil is the Invisibles. A Hypersigil is an extended work of art (which can be something like a Comic series of a movie) with magical meaning and willpower. The Invisibles and Alan Moore's Promethea are examples of hypersigils in comics.

The history of Sigils in comics is hard to debate without knowing the true intent of every image in comics, outside the Hypersigil, some writers with a love for the magical lore has included Sigils in their comics. Acclaimed writer Alan Moore is notorious for placing sigils in comics, such as Promethea and Glory.

Ouroboros

The Ouroboros is a symbol of where a dragon or serpent is devouring its own tail. In magic the Ouroboros is used as a sigil. Since the Ouroboros is the completion of circle, normal symbolic means associated with the circle accompanies the Ourobros.

Traditionally the Ourobros is a symbol for eternity or completeness. It is seen as a symbol for completeness because it forms a never ending circle form beginning to end. As a symbol for eternity the Ouroboros is that never ending circle, of constantly devouring and constantly creating.

The Ouroboros in Alan Moore's Glory would be taken to the next level when it is combined with a Möbius strip.

Möbius strip or Mobius Band

The Mobius Strip or Mobius band is much like the Ouroboros as a sigil. The object s meant to symbolize eternity. A never ending band where if you start the path you will constantly go around it for it does not end. A Mobius strip/band does not have a true set shape. Traditionally the Mobius strip/band resembles the figure 8. In science when the figure 8 is on its side it is the symbol of infinity, the never ending shape.

Synchronicity

Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events that do not share a direct relationship but have a related means alter or it is also seen as a set of causal unrelated "Coincidence". To count as Synchronicity these events should be unlikely to occur at once. An example would be just finding this page. To future the events, after reading this page you find a copy of the book by Carl Jung laying around somewhere, like the floor of a library or a bus shelter.

Synchronicity in magic, is the belief the universe is guiding you. These random events and (un)pleasant coincidences is the universe leading you somewhere. Synchronicity does not always lead to pleasantries, such as in the case of singer Sting who has still never broken away from his fame in The Police and the songs Synchronicity and Synchronicity II.

In comics, "Synchronicity" is mostly attached to John Constantine. Alan Moore had an obsession with magic and wanted to make John Constantine a working class warlock. John Constantine believes he shows up at the "right place" at the "right time" because he can actually control Synchronicity and it runs like a highway where he can get off as he pleases. John Constantine was originally made in the image of British singer Sting, while he was in the band The Police then wrote two songs dedicated to Synchronicity: "Synchronicity and Synchronicity II".

In the Hellblazer book Roots of Coincidence, writer Andy Diggle explores why John can travel the Highway of Synchronicity. It is not a skill, but a Gift (Curse) from his stillborn twin Brother the Golden Boy.

Alchemy

Traditionally alchemy is the quest to change 'worthless' base metals into gold via magic or means of chemistry.

Description

"Alchemy is the reconstruction of matter in new forms based on the knowledge of natural laws. This world flows by obeying these laws. Death, too, is part of that flow. Accept the flow of the world."

Traditionally alchemy is the quest to change 'worthless' base metals into gold via magic or means of chemistry.

Alchemy is the ability to change an items form and shape at will with a sort of "medium" called a transmutation circle. Transmutation circles are generally complex circle shaped markings, and the type of transmutation circle depends on the type of transmutation involved. Say, if the transmutation requires that someone simply change a log to a wooden horse, you would need a certain type of circle for it to be effective.

However, there are still multiple ways in which some people may bypass these laws, such as Ed and Izumi Curtis (the Elric brother's mentor and a respectable alchemist herself, though she doesn't like to use it to make her life simpler) seeing the Gate of Truth in order to become as skillful in the art as they are.

Alchemic Laws

Though at first the power of Alchemy may seem unlimited, there are certain physical laws that it cannot bypass by any normal means. To transmute something into something else, it must have the same properties (i.e. the log and wooden horse) and equally importantly they need to be of the same mass. It is against the laws to transmute a log into an entire cabin, for example.

The Alchemical transmutations are all based off of the four elements fire, wind, water, earth, and the circles they are placed in. All of these things heavily affect the outcome of the item. In example, say a certain circle can change a piece of iron into a hammer, and another would turn it into a spear.

Alchemic Exceptions

There are a certain exceptions to the entire necessity of a transmutation circle as a whole. First off, there is Edward Elric, the Fullmetal alchemist. He can use Alchemy without use of a transmutation circle because he has done the unthinkable by attempting to bring back human life. Because of this, Edward Elric was sent to "The Gate" and saw "Truth", a strange malevolent being that took what he wanted when he wanted. Also, Izumi Curtis, Edward Elric's teacher, has use of this along with his brother Alphonse, who has also seen "Truth".

Along with seeing "Truth", there is also another way to use Alchemy in an instant way: the use of transmutation Circles on your arms or hands at all times. This is what Colonel Roy Mustang does to shoot the flames out of his gloves through the air and friction, a very strategic move for combat.

There is also one other way to gain power of Alchemy and bypass the laws, and that was by using the legendary artifact: The Philosopher's stone. This legendary artifact is very elusive and it seems that no one has been able to find it...it is wondered if it even exists.

There are many Alchemists in the Fullmetal Alchemist world that can perform Alchemy, also known as the devil's magic. Many people, like the Ishbalans, believe that it is an unholy act against the Gods to change an objects form or shape, like Scar, the Ishbalan serial killer who is currently targeting the State Alchemists all across Central due to his holy beliefs of the God of Ishbala.

Notable Users

Edward Elric- he is able to use Alchemy without a transmutation circle, as he saw "Truth" when he went through the gate after he tried to bring his mother Back to life...at the expense of his left leg. He would later lose his arm by trying to save his brother Alphonse Elric, as rather than him losing a limb like Ed did, Alphonse lost his whole body.

Roy-uses the transmutation circles on his gloves and the friction from when he snaps his fingers to create fire in dry air. He is all but useless in the rain.

Scar - his right arm is not his, it was his older brothers, who made his entire body a transmutation circle before the entire Ishbalan race was destroyed. Scar attempted to fight one of the (insane) State Alchemists as they ran from the attackers, and with two swipes of his finger his forehead basically exploded into the scar we see today. He would later lose his arm to the same State Alchemists, and his brother , knowing death was only a few hours away, Scar's brother took off his own arm and attached it to Scar with Alchemy. This is one reason that Scar hates alchemy, but uses it, as his brother died from blood loss shortly after.

Alphonse was originally just like any other alchemist, albeit slightly better due to the fact that alchemy kept him alive. However, after seeing one of his closest friends die, he was able to understand the Gate of Truth, the very same one which Ed saw when he tried to bring their mother back to life. This now allows for Al to use Alchemy without a circle, just like Izumi Curtis and Ed.

Equivalent Exchange

Equivalent Exchange was the idea from the anime of the Fullmetal Alchemist series that most alchemists referred to when explaining the laws of alchemy and in many forms of trade in real life, always saying that in order for them to do something they need the right materials. In essence, they meant that a river couldn't come from a raindrop, at least. not from them.

They would need the appropriate amount of a certain element before attempting a transmutation at all, if not, the transmutation would simply cancel out, or, in much more serious attempts, the effects would be much, much more drastic, such as losing organs like Ed and Al and Izumi did in their try at bringing a human being back to life. This resulted in a lot of things happening, but none of them being positive to the slightest extent.

In the anime, an attempt like this simply made a homologous, but it has nothing to do with that as far as we know in the manga series, and doesn't even seem to really make an indifference, as the things that people have always brought back, as far as Ed and Al know, have only been random human parts, only barely even resembling the original person at all. In fact, Ed was put through much hardship when he discovered that the thing that he brought back from the dead was not his mother at all, meaning that the equivalent exchange didn't exist in that trade at all, giving him nothing and taking nearly everything.

What is "Occult?"

The word occult has Latin origins and its root word is "occultus", which translates to "clandestine, hidden and/or secret". The word Occult has become a word to refer to "knowledge of the hidden". This refers to knowledge not everyone should or can know. Often bearing the double-meaning of forbidden or taboo knowledge, it is often used to describe 'paths' that are considered better avoided. The word "Occult" is often interchangeable with esoteric and arcane; all three have similar meanings, but differ in certain key aspects. In science, it sometimes refers to 'knowledge of the measurable'.

Magical Organizations, or "Orders", are often referred to as being Occult, as are their teachings and/or practices.

Occult verses Science

The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, believed that there is an "inner nature" of things, as opposed to the outer characteristics that are studied by science. He called this 'inner nature' "Will", and he believed since science is about the other characteristics, science could not penetrate to this inner level. In this inner level, the world is connected.

Science defines things by its exterior nature, while the Occult believe in focusing the thing within itself. The Occult have a need to connect to the inner level of "Will" of things. This is also the base principle of Magick where there is a belief that the energy in the innerself can be manipulated. Magick after all is "the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will."

Occult in Psychology

Psychologist Carl Jung, a contemporary of Sigmund Freud, often incorporated occult concepts (such as Alchemy) in his work, and even coined the term Anima/Animus. Other concepts include:

• 

  Ouroboros is an ancient symbol where a Dragon or Serpent is devouring its own tail. Carl Jung saw the Ouroboros as a symbol of the human psyche. Later Jungian psychologist, Erich Neumann wrote that the Ouroboros was a representation of the pre-ego "dawn state". The symbol suppose to be depicting the undifferentiated infancy experience of both mankind and the individual child, both the same, but both different views of the same moment. In art and literature it is utilized as a symbol for eternity; it is an eternal cycle that never breaks.
• Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events that do not share a direct relationship but have a related means alter or it is also seen as a set of causal unrelated "Coincidence". To count as Synchronicity, these events should be unlikely to occur at once. An example would be just finding this page. To future the events, after reading this page you find a copy of he book by Carl Jung laying around somewhere, like the floor of a library or a bus shelter.

Occult in Religion

Many people believe that the Occult is the 'Paranormal', or the supernatural that exists outside of religion, such as ghosts. There are many religions that are associated with the occult for various reasons (largely because of the nature of their studies), including Kabbalist, Gnosticism, Hermeticism, Theosophy, Luciferianism, Satanism (largely Le Veyan), Thelema, and Neopaganism.

There are religions that are not seen as occult, such as: Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Part of the reason for the separation of the sides is the nature of "mysticism" and the general amount of followers. The main reason that these religions are not seen as Occult is simply because they are 'mainstream', or widely practiced; these religions are often known for referring to alien beliefs as being 'pagan'.

Magick and the Occult

"Magick" is "the Science and Art of causing change to occur in conformity with Will." Adapted by individuals such as Aleister Crowley, where the "Will" he is referring to is the one mentioned by Arthur Schopenhauer, or the "inner nature" of things.

There are many modern practices of Magic today; some are seen as occult, like demonology or alchemy. Divination practices like astrology (Horoscope) for example, are not seen as occult since many people enjoy them in non-religious ways.

Numerology (or, less commonly, Numeromancy), for example, is a form of pseudomathematics. It is used as a method of Divination, using numbers and patterns to find meaning in things.

• Note that the belief that certain numbers hold meaning in relation to world events, or 'conspiracy theories' that involve specific numbers, are not generally included within this category.

Occult in Comics

There are a few comic creators that use the Occult to create comics. Many of these comic creators are alumni of DC Comics' imprint Vertigo. The two most noted Occult practitioners in comics would be Alan Moore (From Hell) and Grant Morrison (The Invisibles). Both acclaimed writers have a lot of occult influence in there works, and are bitter rivals. The Invisibles is an example of the Occult in Comics, since it serves as the first comic Hypersigil. After reading and understanding The Invisibles, most of Grant Morrison's work is said to be understood differently; The Invisibles serves as his "handbook" to the Occult. Neal Gaiman, creator of such series as Sandman, can also be seen as utilizing Occult images and themes, though his work generally leans more towards the fantastic, not esoteric.

Character John Constantine (The Vertigo Flagship character) is considered the original Occult detective. Other Occult detectives would follow, such as Cal McDonald, William Gravel and Harry Dresden. Before Constantine, most occult characters dealt primarily in multiple fields of magic, such as: Doctor Strange, Zatanna and Madame Xanadu.

Ragman, although not originally an occult character, became one when he was rebooted after Crisis of Infinite Earths. The whole basis of his powers comes from the Suit of Souls, a suit made from occult Judaism.

It is also hinted from time to time that the Scarlet Witch wields occult power, although how she views her abilities is, as of yet, unspecified. Other mutants that delve into the realm of the occult include Illyana Rasputin, Amanda Sefton, and (to a small degree) Pixie.

Vertigo also released a Tarot set, in which characters of the Vertigo universe were used to represent the archetypes of the Tarot. Death of the Endless, for example, would be the Death card, Lucifer would be the Devil card and Swamp Thing would be the world. The reason why this worked is because Tarot knowledge is an archetype of patterns to symbols and the Vertigo universe just happens to have characters that fit similar symbols. Note that this is not necessarily unique to the Vertigo universe; virtually any of the other comic franchises could do the same, even with mere teams of individuals.