Magic

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Magic (from the Greek: μαγεία mageía "sorcery, jugglery, illusion" - derived from the Old Persian magush, the name of the Medean priests), which of course must not be confused with the magical art of the illusionists, is generally defined as the purely spiritual influencing of external objects, events, people and possibly also other spiritual beings. In late antiquity, magic was widespread in the form of theurgy. Magic also plays a special role in hermeticism.

Initiates and Magicians

In contrast to the initiate, the magician not only strives for spiritual knowledge, but also wants to intervene directly in the world by means of spiritual powers. To this end, he uses a wide variety of spiritual techniques such as meditation, the recitation of mantric texts, knowledge of the secret names of the spiritual beings called upon to act, or certain ritual cultic acts. Word magic, verbal magic or word spells are the terms used to describe magical effects intended to be brought about by spoken or merely thought words, i.e. spells. In a jokingly derogatory form, one also likes to speak of meaningless hocus-pocus.

„The followers of magic were of the opinion that a substantial extension of the human sphere of action could take place through the training of the imagination. The man who is able to bring his imagination to a certain degree of perfection penetrates into undreamed-of secrets, and he can bring about by his will what seems to most men only conceivable as the effect of nature or of a supernatural being.“ (Lit.: GA 1d, p. 163 note 5)

Often magical practice is associated with medial states of trance, that is, with the dullest form of consciousness. A magician, on the other hand, who is able to work consciously into his physical body and draws from it the powers to work into the outer physical world, may with some justification also be called an adept.

„Precisely because the physical body is the lowest member, it requires the greatest effort of the human being to get this body under his own control. With the transformation of this physical body goes hand in hand the attainment of power over forces that flood the whole cosmos. And the mastery over these cosmic forces is what is called magic.“ (Lit.:GA 100, p. 43)

References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.
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