Mind Magic - Thoughts, Experiences & Theories
These notes on the concept and exploration of my own powers as a Mind Mage are not intended to be an instruction manual for others. Indeed, I doubt anyone else will ever read them! But since I do not have access to a personal, dedicated library on the very subject, I feel I must start writing my own book. Perhaps one day it will sit alongside other books on magic and the supernatural, but it is more likely that it will end up as kindling for a fireplace long after I’m dead (at least I hope after I’m dead!).
Magic
A simple title but so difficult to deal with! Since these are notes on my own magic, however, I can be more subjective, and therefore narrow the writing a little.
I have read many books that each give an entirely different view on what magic is, as a concept. Some say it is an art and that magicians of various types, (wizards, sorcerers, witches, druids, and so on) use their abilities to create something that is driven as much by emotion as it is by symbols and spoken words. There are others who believe it sacred, almost holy. More than one mage writes that magic is channelled from the divines themselves, and that they are but a conduit. Then there are those who swear it is a matter of science and mathematics; that it is the act of taking energy and manipulating it with formulas, equations and so on.
Personally, I am entirely unsure which camp, if any, I belong to.
I am able to ‘see’ magic. This is hardly unusual, but I have yet to meet a mage who sees it in the same way. I believe that it truly is subjective in this manner, and has many different factors that could alter how exactly it is ‘seen’ or ‘sensed’. It is most likely (though not a fact) that different races see or sense magic in different ways. The Fae, for example, are creatures born of magic and, though I prefer to avoid sweeping statements, I have found that in my studies, the Fae are more prone to describe their magic as an art. The same goes for the Lumeacia. Of the Elementals, I know not. Some describe it as a “glowing light” or a “mystical force”, though the latter is quite ambiguous.
I remember a quote from a Fae mage by the name of Hara Tillia: “The glow of magic surrounded me as I summoned fire from the Beyond. Not just the crimson and yellow of the flame itself, but so many different colours that danced around as if carried by a gentle breeze. Such beauty in the casting of such a simple spell. All that wonder to light but a single wick of a beeswax candle.”
Humans and Kerasokan Elves seem to take a rather more pragmatic approach to it. The most blatant of examples that comes to mind is Jon Lee, a Mind Mage (like myself) who wrote: “[magic] is a matter of matter. One simply transfers energy - which exists all around us if you know how to look. It is simple, really. No need to overthink it. You feel for the most powerful source and you take from it, shape what you have to your intention, and then release. There is no need for deities in the subject of magic. It simply is.” In this, he does not think magic to be anything other than another tool, just like one might wield a sword or a cooking pot.
Personally I see lines. A great shimmering web that connects everything to everything else. Interacting with these threads with my mind is how I am able to perform magic.
Some things I have learned with this:
- Everything has a thread; from people, animals, plants, rocks, spoons, tables … everything.
- While I have stated that all the threads ‘shimmer’, the things that are alive, have a stronger glow that runs along the threads that connect them to other things. For example, a thread that connects a Human woman to a rock will be bright at the woman’s end and will gradually grow dimmer as it reaches the rock.
- Threads can be a variety of colours. Though there are more variations, I will note what the colours mean as I investigate further.
- Threads will act in certain ways, especially when connected to a living thing. They may, for example, brighten or darken if a person is experiencing strong emotions. I will need to study this more if I am to be able to harness my empathic and telepathic abilities.
- In order to move an object, I must use my abilities to take hold of these threads and manipulate them in order to achieve the desired result. I will add more as I experiment.
- Using magic leaves a trace. Some call it a footprint, others interpret it as an echo, or a residue. This can be used to track down a magic user, and the best defence is to fine tune or hone your casting to leave as little trace as possible. This is currently very difficult.
- Strong emotions and extreme pain can cause an ‘eruption’ of magic, leading to all sorts of things; unintentional telekinetic activity, telepathic events which people close around will experience (visions, headaches, etc.) I am still learning about this.
- Using my abilities is draining. I am unsure if I truly believe in the concept of ‘mana’, but there is much writing on the fact that a magic users has to get the energy from somewhere. Druids may get it from the natural world around them, magical creatures use personal reserves … the average Human mage who may have an inherent ability to use magic, usually has to study and practice in order to fully utilise their power. I believe that using magic is like exercising; it will tire you out and you can only do so much at a time, but it will improve. Like a muscle perhaps. When I put a lot of effort into magic, I become hot and weary, possibly suggesting that using magic is draining my physically - though some would argue that the same would happen it were truly my soul, spirit, mana - or whatever other word used to describe magical energy a person prefers - and that pushing myself too much could lead to physical and mental harm, maybe even death.