Magick without rituals?

[goodboy]

Is there magick that doesn't involve the use of a ritual? I figure the use of magick takes time and effort and voluntary belief in one's self, or in similar text, and involves a higher understanding of what you are about to "embark" on, but I was wondering if rituals are totally necessary?

[zayin]

I think it is up to you how you work with magic. Everyday magic doesn't involve a ritual for me, at least not a physical one. Most important is building your intent then setting it off with your will. Learning to be detached is a big help. Now there is also a universal collection of intent, and when you use an ancient ritual, that has been used powerfully over a long period of time, you will be tapping into that intent as well. A ritual is useful in building your intent, for instance, if I need to cleanse away negativity or self-importance I may use sweet grass or other plants as a focus. Also the more you use something, like a plant, the more it becomes aware of your intent to work with. In essense you build a relationship with all the factors involved. I think a crucial part of magic is to become aware that it is everywhere, that your magic and other's magic are constantly colliding into each other or working together. It becomes important to save every intention you can, so you can save up and focus you energy at one goal. Easier said then done, to collect and interpret your intent.

[~¤LilacSky¤~]

I agree with incubus here, also rituals are good for summoning a lot of energy to send out, the more effective the magick/energy will be...
I do not use rituals and this is a great question to ask goodboy because alot of people think they need to in order to work magick, but it is never nessecary, in fact what ever feels right to you is the right way..
I think I have done a couple rituals, however I created them and used them for healing mostly..
you can light a candle and focus your energy and send it into the flame, you can do it with anything, however smoke is my way, yep I make incense and put my energies into it and send it out as it burns I focus on my intent...
great guestion goodboy!
I hope this helps

[zayin]

In addition to what I said earlier I think the most important part is interpreting where we place our intent, at least to begin with. I think the process of intending and willing is very natural to us and does not even need much excess work, and the problem is we are too consumed in superficial things. I find all the many things we are concerned about in daily life takes away all the intent we have. We become too concerned with what we have, how we appear to others, how intelligent we think we are, etc, and our intent goes to these things in a scattered unfocused manor (with some results). If we can search inside ourselves and find the reasons we waste our energy then we can find the pattern and stop spending our intent on these things. I find such a small thing from soo long ago can drain so much. In essence this practice builds power, but power that is already yours to begin with. When we begin to lose our self-importance we can send our intent but not be so bent on the outcome, which is crucial. If you are interested in the actual ritual involved in recapping your intentions let me know. It is very simple.

[~¤LilacSky¤~]

very true incubus...
I think again introspection and taking time out to look within, can create power alone...
reflecting on ourselves sometimes can be the best ritual..

[goodboy]

So rituals are used to restore energy and intent within the user and to provide a proving ground for one's own abilities?

Thanks for the answers and explanations to my questions! They are really helpful.

[~¤LilacSky¤~]

your welcome and is this your first time goodboy for magick???
if so perhaps read up on the board and maybe youll find a magickal working you can do, such a simple candle spell..
if you need help let us know!!

[Anise]

I agree with both suggestions/responses. I think it's great that you both mentioned "intent" and "focus" as I see that as the sole purpose of a ritual. Traditional rituals (from what I have found) usually involve various ingredients/items and a chant or saying. All these things help you focus on your intent. But if you do not need help (via specific items) to focus your intent then you do not need the items. I have tried both ways and I seem to be able to focus more without the items that traditional rituals call for. When I tried the traditional way I was too worried about getting everything right (according to the ritual).

When it comes down to it, it's all based on personal preference and what feels comfortable and right to you. As you as you keep your focus on your intent then everything else will work it's way in place. Magic (to me) is about getting in touch with your innerself and to be able to receive the guidance your innerself has to offer. All these rituals and processes one goes through only helps you with that.

[goodboy]

Yes, this is my first time doing anything with magick. I will look up a simple candle spell, as you put it, and attempt it...

[~¤LilacSky¤~]

you do not need the precise color in working candle magick, remember there are no right and wrongs with your own magick style, simple use your will power, and energy tame it and send it out..
I use candle's for focus techniques as well..
so it can be good for many things if you choose..
try to feel the outcome of your desire as you focus as well..try to feel what you wish to manifest..if it is happiness, envison yourself happy as you can be, and hold that image/feeling for as long as possible, this always helps me in my magick..

[Silver MoonWolf]

I agree with the idea that I don;t think you have to have a ritual, especially if you are well practiced with magick and can focus the energy quickly and send it out on it's purpose with minimal effort. However I think that if someone is a beginner(like me) or you simply need to add more OOMPH to the spell that the ritual will help focus the energy and make the spell work either more quickly or effectively than it would have without the ritual. I have yet to really start designing my own rituals as I am still learning the practices and concepts behind everything but I am looking forward to the day when I can start creating my own rituals and spells.

[ladybleu]

I agree with alot that has already been said. I don't use rituals as a rule but if I do it's because I need extra focus, they help keep me on task. No long drawn out rituals either, my patience is not the greatest. but mostly just cleansing my mind before a spell is enough to get the job done.

[BenHangen]

From the first moment you discover you have intent and begin to focus you begin a ritual. With me the matter of ritual is a matter of communication on an altered consciousness level; multi-dimensional, total body ‘the seven bodies’, or however you wish to perceive it.

Life itself is a ritual, just look around yourself and notice how many things you do every day religiously. But there are times as Silver Moon Wolf points out that ritual is bypassed and action is propagated instantly. I’ll use Qigong as an example because it’s easy to look up but if you apply the principles of Qigong to magik you will have learned the conversation of magic.

[SnowMoon]

Dec 3, 2005 10:34:55 GMT -5 goodboy said:

Is there magick that doesn't involve the use of a ritual? I figure the use of magick takes time and effort and voluntary belief in one's self, or in similar text, and involves a higher understanding of what you are about to "embark" on, but I was wondering if rituals are totally necessary?

ritual is not necessary. magick can be done in many ways.