I sincerely believe it is the responsibility of the magician to be in most respects an optimist
I also believe magic is one of the more actualized and direct manifestations of autonomy and the reclamation of. So also... do whatever you want. I'm not your dad. But if you're open to suggestion:
It's good to engage in ritual with the working assumption that the ritual will be successful. Seems kinda fraught otherwise right? We're already engaging in an activity that is innately and purposefully abstracted from its goal, why would we throw another wrench in the machine by assuming our own failure? And it is GOOD to be conscientious in your action. To work to make your life and the lives of those around you better, and to reduce the total amount of suffering. If you disagree that these things are good best of luck to you. I doubt we would have a productive conversation, but I wish you well.
Anyways, I am not about to fall into some New Thought/Kybalion ass manifestation line please don't worry. But what I AM saying is that when we step out the door assuming we're gonna eat shit we usually eat shit. And a magical life wildly exacerbates the potential for eating shit. It also wildly increased potential in general, in any direction. When I say "responsibility" I mean having the foreknowledge that you have wildly increased your potential and acting accordingly. Broadly, as an entity participating in the vast complex network of being alive, you have incredible potential to do good. You will limit that potential to do good if you fall into fear and doomerism. You will limit everyone's potential to do good. And to see the good that can be reached, that can be strived for. I do magic because I think it'll work. I love because I think people are worth loving. I seek beauty because it's out there to find. And I fix problems because they're fixable. Yes, even if they're big problems. Even if they're REALLY big problems. Like really big.
It's gonna be alright.
