Is Magic Real?

In the Harry Potter movies we watch children play Quidditch on a broomstick and little wizards and witches casting quick spells here and there with their magic wands. In the movie, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," we watch martial arts heroes literally flying among the trees to fight. These days we're flooded with all kinds of movies that bring magic into our lives. With all this new found interest in magic, most people are asking, "Is magic real?" What do you think? Is magic real and can you really have magic in your life?

Yes. Magic is very real and has existed as a precise science for thousands of years. Whether you call it magic, magick or majick, it is real. Every single person can learn to do magic. We were ALL born with the talents and abilities that empower us to do magic. The only reason that magic seems so, well, magical is that this society no longer teaches the art and science of magic. In the distant past, magical study was just as important as math, science or the arts. Even the miracles that Jesus performed were based on the use of magic. In fact, magic was and still is the birthright of EVERY planetary citizen.

Can you learn to do the kind of magic portrayed in the movies? Yes - and no. The movies are great at giving you a taste of what you can do with magic, but they aren't very accurate. In the Harry Potter movies, for instance, the characters use their wands for every magical operation. In reality, you can only use the wand to handle air energies. Your wand would actually explode or catch fire if you tried to use it to throw firebolts and fireballs like the characters do in the movie.

So what can you actually do with magic? Quite a lot. Here's a short list to get you started:

- Balance your energies for healing and manifestation

- Change old beliefs

- Defend yourself against physical and psychic attack

- Heal yourself and others

- Find hidden information and see possible futures

- Psychically communicate with other beings

- Create sacred space

- Find lost people and objects

- Manifest what you want and need in life

At the very basis of magic is the understanding of the four elements: Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Called elemental magic, these foundational elements are real. Air, Fire, Water and Earth are part of our natural everyday environment. What makes them magical is the understanding of how they operate not just on the physical level, but also at the levels of mind and Spirit.

For instance, while on the physical level Air is just the stuff we breathe, on the magical levels Air is the conduit of psychic communication, enlightenment, understanding, dreaming and more. If you want more of any of these things in your life, then you need more magical Air. How do you get more magical Air? Wear more Air colors, including white for communication and sky blue for enlightenment and understanding. To take this one step further, you could also take on more Air to make your body lighter.

By just extending your understanding and use of the basic ingredients of nature, you are doing magic! Seen in this light, magic isn't all smoke and mirrors, nor is it the result of Hollywood special effects. Magic is the result of truly understanding and working with the very elements that are all around you.

One final note: Many masters, including Wayne Dyer, have said, "You'll see it when you believe it." The same is true for magic. In other words, the suspension of disbelief and the willingness not to exercise contempt prior to investigation are requirements for magic to be "real." Magic is all around us, and always is, but our ability to perceive and use the forces of magic depends on our willingness to be open. No one else can show it to you, only your direct experience and observation can "prove" or demonstrate to you that magic is real.

We've found that one of the simplest ways to experience magic (and your own magical abilities) is to work with clouds. Clouds respond to your intention, and you can easily move, shape and manipulate clouds from a great distance. And moving clouds that are suspended hundreds of feet above you is quite magical, isn't it?

To start playing with clouds, send a blank email to clouds at shamanschool.com. We'll email the instructions to you ASAP. Have fun!

Alan Joel co-founded the Esoteric School of Shamanism and Magic with the goal of the helping people create permanent, positive change in their lives through the study of magic and shamanism. Get free tips and resources at the Esoteric School.