The Science and Art of Magick

that I had just revealed. I have come to know witchcraft as the art of connection and relationship, and working with that connection and relationship through cause and effect to create inner and outer changes.

Witchcraft forges relationships through connection. Reality can be viewed as existing in layers. The most basic forms of this idea in occultism are referred to as the macrocosm and the microcosm, the larger Universe and the smaller Universe. Let’s look at the human body and mind to give an illustration of this. I, Mat Auryn, am an individual autonomous person. Within me is a microcosm of individual living cells. If we could talk to one of these cells within me, I’m pretty sure it would have no concept of who I am as a whole. It would also most likely refute the idea that it and another cell were the same cells or the same being, just as you and I would agree that we are different individuals and not the same human being. However, the cells are part of an intricate system that composes me on a grander level, whether they are aware of it themselves or not.

Likewise, you and I are part of systems that make up larger forms of consciousness on higher levels. This is a truth for all things in the Universe, visible and invisible, physical and nonphysical, not just the cells in my body and not just humans as a whole. Everything is interconnected with everything else. As we zoom out to the macrocosm, everything unifies. As we zoom in to the microcosm, everything differentiates and separates. However, on the most fundamental level of reality, we are all One; Everything. This individuation and unification occur in a repeating pattern throughout the different levels of reality and consciousness. This idea is the heart of the Hermetic axiom of “As above, so below. As within, so without.”

Witchcraft, then, is orienting ourselves to approach and connect with everything in the Universe as both smaller individual and larger cohesive forces—including within ourselves. We build and strengthen relationships to benefit ourselves and others mutually, and to influence change on both the microcosm and the macrocosm. Again, this concept is easy enough to grasp intellectually, but it takes on new levels of meaning once this spiritual orientation is enacted, leading to experience. For this reason, most witches are active animists. We interact with all things as individual spirits in their own right, whether that’s an herb, a stone, a non-physical intelligence, or even your pair of shoes. This approach of animism is acknowledging the animated

essence inherent in and unique to all things. In the witch’s eyes, everything has consciousness on some level; everything can be connected to, and a relationship can be forged in which we assist one another.

The Anchoring Grounding Technique

Exercise 1 • Anchoring (A Grounding Technique)

Before we move on to any of the workings ahead, it’s important that we cover a grounding technique. Grounding assists us in assuring that we aren’t overloading our system with energy. It keeps us healthy, balanced, and safe before we engage in any sort of meditation, magick, or energy exercises. This technique is also good for any situation in which you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or drained by your environment, such as being in loud noisy places, or feeling a bit spacey. Grounding should be performed before and after any energetic technique from spellcasting to meditation to psychic readings. Neglecting to do this will create problems down the road over time.

Begin by relaxing as much as possible. Visualize a tube of energy descending from the bottom of each of your feet. If you are sitting down on the ground, you can envision it coming down from each thigh. These two tubes of energy go into the earth and connect to create a loop. From there a chain keeps forming, descending deep into the earth. At the bottom of the chain, visualize an anchor. Feel the anchor sink into a very solid and sturdy part of the earth below you, keeping you safe and secure and steady. Affirm to yourself that any excess energy beyond what is appropriate and healthy for you is automatically flowing from your body and energy field down into the golden chain and anchor, like electricity traveling down a lightning rod. If at any time you feel overwhelmed with energy or emotion, send it out of your body and down through your feet into the chain strengthening it and empowering it.

When you are done with whatever magickal technique, meditation, or energy work you have performed, ground once again by affirming and visualizing any excess energy beyond what is appropriate and healthy for you leaving your body and energy field and re-entering your grounding chain. Then visualize the energy chain dissolving into Earth, helping it to heal and to be available for those who might need it.

Exercise 2 • The Heart of Presence (A Centering Technique)

The second most crucial energy technique after grounding is centering yourself. Centering and grounding tend to be lumped together a lot, as they’re rightfully often used together. However, understanding the difference is essential, and I like to separate the techniques when teaching any meditation or energy work to get a better feel and understanding of the processes. Centering is focusing your awareness and energy on your spiritual center at the present moment. The purpose is to essentially bring awareness to where you are in relationship to the greater metaphysical reality so that you have a vantage point to work from. It ensures that your thoughts and energy are focused and fine-tuned to here and now and not scattered or distracted.