Marie

— WHAT IS MAGIC?

Magic is everything.

It's all around us - there, even when we don't recognize or understand it.

There's really no easy way to explain magic. It's in nature - in the changes of the seasons, in the migration of birds, in the gentle summer breezes. It's in natural phenomena - the stuff that can be seen and explained by science and theories.

At the same time, magic is unknowable.

It's in coincidences that could be explained by chance and yet feel meaningful to you. It's in the feeling you get when someone triggers your wards, or when a spirit wanders into your sanctuary.

Magic is a paradox.

It's there when you want it to be. Gone, if you don't. There's magic in everything - the observable, the unknowable, and the proven.

Everything in life can be explained. You can explain it with logic, with science and theories, by chance and coincidence, and with magic. I choose to believe that nothing just /happens/ in life.

Everything, everywhere, all the time is connected to something else. Even if you don't see it or choose not to believe it, the threads of magic, of coincidence and science and chance, are embedded into everything.

— DO WE CREATE MAGIC OURSELVES?

This question is a tough one. Magic, in my opinion, is a kind of energy. It cannot be created nor destroyed - just transformed and converted.

The full question is, "do we create magic ourselves? Or are there pre-existing magical currents we're utilizing?" and I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle.

If there's magic in everything, which I believe there is, then that means there's inherently magic in us, too. But that magic is inherent - granted to us by virtue of being part of the world around us. It dwells within us, settled somewhere within the fabric of our very being; we don't create that. We draw from a finite, but constantly replenishing pool of energy.

That's why we get tired after a long ritual. That energy - the magic we use, comes from somewhere. If we could generate our own magic, then we'd all be casting spells 24/7 without ever getting tired.

In the same way we need regular sleep and nourishment, we need to regularly replenish our magic(al) energy.

That said, not everyone draws from their inherent pool of magic. Just like with anything in life, everyone's pool is different.

Some people have an easier time tapping into their own magic, while other's have bigger pools to take from. Some people's pool replenishes naturally with time, while other's have to take energy from elsewhere to take care of themselves.

Some people prefer to borrow magic altogether and turn to the ethereal and divine for help rather than using their own supply.

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎— WHERE DOES MAGIC COME FROM?

Like I said, magic is inherent. I'm sure you could come up with some theory about where it originates from - but like the blood that pumps through our body, magic is just there.

If you're part of nature, magic is part of you. (in other words, I don't know)

— DOES MAGIC HAVE A PURPOSE?

No.

When we harness magic, we can give it a purpose but magic can be used for anything. Think of electricity - before we found a way to convert it to power our lights, it technically didn't have a purpose.

That doesn't mean it wasn't there, or anything. It just didn't have anything to do or a place to go. Magic doesn't inherently have a purpose. Anyone can harness it and use it for whatever motivates them. Some people use it for healing and protection, while others get more destructive and baneful with it.

There's no right or wrong way to use magic. It doesn't follow a strict moral code or have a rulebook for the do's and don't.

— IF MAGIC ISN'T "MAGIC," WHAT IS IT?

Then it would be synchronicity. I know that Carl Jung gets mentioned way more than he should, but his concept of synchronicity - the concept that events can appear meaningfully related, yet lack actual connection, feels relevant here.

In a world where magic isn't magic, then those instances that felt "magical" would be examples of synchronicity.

— ARE YOU A MAKER OF MAGIC?

On impulse, I wanted to say that I am a maker of magic - but when I think about it for a second longer, I don't think that's true.

The full question, "are you a maker of magic? Or has magic made you?" truly made me wonder. Throughout my life, I've been guided by magic. In almost every major life decision, magic has been there for me. I learned from my grandma and mom, and every since then, magic has just been part of my way of life. There's something a bit poetic about saying that I'm made by magic, but I think that's true.

It's so deeply engraved into my soul and body. I've casted spells for so many things, and when they've failed, I've taken that as a sign to move on. It's that kind of process that's led me to where I am right now, literally. If my spells had worked as intended, then I'd be elsewhere - but I'm here.

And with that in mind, I say that my magic has definitely made me.

— WHAT ROLE DOES MAGIC PLAY IN MY LIFE?

As I've gotten older, magic has less of a role in my life - but I yearn for it.

I so desperately want to get back into doing magic and casting spells. Magic used to play such a big part in my life. Everything I owed was enchanted, protected and anointed - and while there's still lots of that energy around, the way I engage with magic as a whole has changed.

When I say that I was raised with magic, know that I mean I was raised with it. It's literally weaved into my daily life, that I don't think I could separate myself from my practice even if I tried.

From the color I paint my nails, to the jewelry I wear, and the oils I put in my hair - every aspect of my life has been touched by magic in one way or another. During my job search, I did so many different spells in the hopes of landing a job.

Whenever I need to make a big decision, I immediately pull out the tarot cards for guidance from the Universe. The rearview mirror of my car has like, three different amulets dangling from it as protection on the road. While I am not so intentional with it anymore, magic is just a way of life for me. I'm always engaging with it, even when it might not seem like it - magic surrounds me, and I'll forever be grateful for that.

The tension between the Sun/Moon - perceived vs. instinctual self, is always palpable with me by virtue of the two being in opposition in my chart, but Mercury's influence over the two makes them more at odds.

As the stars would have it be, the transiting Mercury is conjunct with my natal Saturn, too. My Gemini Saturn yearns for solutions - for guidance and rules to abide by. It wants things grounded in reality, a boundary to respect, something to hold onto. As the Sun/Moon fight each other, the Saturn turns to others for answers.

And somewhere in the mix, Neptune watches. In the background, as always, but still there - quietly shifting things behind the scenes. While my Aquarius Neptune is like my Sun's big brother - Neptune doesn't just empower it. Neptune turns thoughts into actions, and together with Mercury, actions into material success.

Neptune leads, making dreams into realities.

Altogether, these transits read as though I need to turn towards others for guidance. Mercury, which is at war with all concepts of self, can only seem to find comfort in others - in Saturn, that desperately wants a solution, and in quiet Neptune, who's ready to take the next step towards something.

Rather than wallowing in self-pity and a need to feel productive (rather than actually working towards anything), the best thing I can do is connect with others and put feelings into words.