MAGIC

Not those who use sleight of hand, or the conjurer, the escape artist, and illusionists types. Although I admire their skills, what intrigues me is the authentic kind; Moses and the Pharaoh’s magicians, who matched the first two of the Hebrew’s nine plagues. For centuries biblical teachings from the churches to the synagogues took their feats of manifesting snakes, and then frogs, and bloody waters, to Moses’ solo ability to bring forth the remaining plagues as fantastical and fantasy. We dismiss their seemingly supernatural powers in favor of logical and rational thinking. Consequently mankind’s progress into modernity is industrial, technological, and computer oriented, with positive developments in the medical, and sanitation fields. Perhaps this is good. Perhaps, however, we threw out the baby with bath water, as the cliche goes. Perhaps, we should have inquired more into the magic of the Bible. The Torah does not reveal the curriculums. Our modern-day notion of a Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a fiction from the Harry Potter books.

History tells us that during the Middle Ages many royal courts did retain and house Kabbalists, including family members, because of their magical and mystical expertise, along with other abilities and achievements. Here we see magic imbued with a spiritual aspect in contrast to what is known as demonic, black magic. Practitioners of the dark arts rely on sorcery, curses, and hexes to cause harm or gain control over another person. Some folks have labeled Donald Trump, the Magician-in-Chief for his ability to manipulate the stock markets, or use misdirection and spectacles to distract the media and his voters’ attention from his crimes, similar to the skills of an illusionist. However, when Trump is motivated by revenge, intent on harming others, he is moving into darker realms. If you watch his speeches and sound-bites with the volume off you can clearly see the venomous facial expressions as he spits out his poisonous words.

By distinction, Kabbalists use magical formulas, incantations, head movements, and visualization techniques that revolve around the sacred Hebrew alphabet. In one vein, Jewish folklore maintains this methodology is attributed to creating a Golem, “an artificial, human-shaped figure made of mud or clay and brought to life through sacred mystical practices, primarily stemming from the Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism)”. - Yehuda Altein’s article in Chabad.org. Furthermore, “The theoretical blueprint for creating a golem relies on the Sefer Yetzirah (one of the oldest existing texts on Jewish esotericism). This ancient text posits that God created the universe through the manipulation of the Hebrew alphabet and divine utterances. Kabbalists believed that by properly permuting these holy letters and speaking specific incantations, they could channel the formative energies of creation into inanimate matter”. - Rabbi Jay Michelson article for My Jewish Learning. The purpose of the golem was to protect communities and people from harm.

It seems authentic magic relies on the sacredness embedded in the letters of our speech. Is it just coincidental that the English word “alphabet” is derived from the the first two letters of the holy Hebrew alphabet, “Aleph” and “Bet”? Certainly, the use of the word “magic” or synonymous terms is ubiquitous in our culture to the point of meaninglessness. According to Starbucks’ new TV ad their coffee is magic. Lexus makes the same claim about a car in their latest TV commercial. In a PSA for Utah’s Greater Zion Film Commission, Kevin Costner expounds on the magic of shooting a movie in that State. These promotional pieces emphasis the non-ordinary and serendipitous experiences we associate with romanticism and the magical. In distinction, the aim of Moses and the Pharaoh’s magicians was to manifest something profound. The Hebrew, as well as his Egyptians counterparts were grounded in strong beliefs in their gods and received spiritual guidance. The Hebrew’s would eventually be refined into legal and moral covenants at Mt. Sinai. A quantum leap in consciousness occurred for mankind when the Ten Commandments were engraved in tablets by the “finger of God” and given to the people of Israel. (Exodus 31:18)

I am reminded of the Magician card in the tarot’s higher arcana, or suit of Trumps. It represents manifestation by divine inspiration and communication. As above, so below. This card specifically addresses the inherent ability to channel spiritual power from the heavenly divine and transform our earth and our everyday work-world through precise language to manipulate the elements; fire, air, water, and earth. In Kabbalah and in tarot these four correspond to the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical realms which must be in balance to perform the Magician’s tasks. He or she are not tricksters, unlike Donald Trump. Remember, God created the world through nine expressed, utterances, “God said, ‘Let there be light’. . . Kabbalists infer the 10th emanated from God’s Will, as the divine impulse that initiated the desire to create our Universe. (Genesis, chapter 1:1-31).

Well, the sacred Hebrew alphabet makes an appearance in the tarot cards too. The suit of Trumps, or higher arcana, are traditionally numbered from 0-21, with The Magician being numeral 1. However, I prefer the tarot's connection to the Hebrew alphabet which goes from 1-22. Each letter has spiritual, and inherent magical properties of a highly technical nature. The Magician card aligns with the 2nd Hebrew letter, Bet, which is symbolic for house or home as well as creation, “Bet is numerically equal to 2. In Jewish tradition (Kabbalah), this represents duality, creation, and the blessing of multiplicity”. - Hebrew for Christians. “Bet is the very first letter of the Torah and the Hebrew Bible. The word Bereshit ("In the beginning") starts with this letter, symbolizing that life is a cosmic vessel meant to serve as a home for the Divine.” - Chabad. The infamous Aleister Crowely, creator of The Thoth tarot deck, incorporated the Hebrew letters into his cards. He based his philosophy and practice of “Magick” on the tenets,  “Do what though wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law. Love under will.” He defines his Magik as, “the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with one's will.”

Mastery of communication is a skill that is key to unlocking a magician’s power, which is beyond my present capabilities. However, I do work with language and words, and know it is imperative to recognize what we say to each other and to ourselves are impactful, physical entities. They are the building blocks in the process of bringing something into being. The steps in this methodology mirrors the four elements; fire as spiritual, or emanating; air as intellectual, or creating, water as emotional, or forming, and earth as the physical, or making. All four worlds must be in sync; from the initial impulse, to the idea, to the emotional commitment, to finally making something and bring it to reality. We can use words constructively or be overly critical and tear things or someone down, including ourselves. “Scholars who support the Hebrew etymology say the incantation "abracadabra" is a corruption of the Hebrew, ebrah k’dabri, meaning 'I will create as I speak,' ie that the act of speech will magically create new realities" (Rabbi Julian Sinclair's article in The Jewish Chronicle, 2018).

By the way, the four suits of the tarot deck are built upon the same elements; fire, air, water, and earth that correspond to wands, swords, cups and disks, respectively. You see, it is all of a piece. As above, so below is the teaching of The Magician. One’s spiritual beliefs is the internal engine to shape and transform the reality of your everyday work-world. It begins with the practice of proper alignment, proper conduct, and proper speech.