Table of Contents
There are many forms and kinds of magic but only two major branches, or divisions of purpose. The two branches designate the underlying purpose of the work – not the reason it is being done or what it seeks to accomplish, but why it exists and is practiced in the first place.
Practical Magic
This is your everyday, problem-solving, magic of getting things done. You use it to find your keys, heal your dog, receive new money, learn a secret, or repel a nuisance visitor.
Practical magic can be performed in either a fancy or straightforward manner, a ritual in a circle or a minute of stuffing gems and herbs into a bag. What makes it practical isn’t the procedure, but the intent.
If it affects life, whether day-to-day or as a whole, it is likely practical magic you are practicing. Most of this work aims to solve a problem of some sort.
Esoteric Magic
Often called magic for the sake of magic, esoteric work makes great training material to build skill and experience. While this magic may contribute to the solving of problems or achieving a real world end, such effects are usually indirect.
The primary aim of esoteric magic deals with spiritual or metaphysical matters beyond the scope of daily, mundane concerns. Examples include astral journeying, communicating with spirits (outside of doing so to solve a specific worldly problem), divinations of a broad nature (looking generally at the future or asking “what do I need to know”) and other operations designed for the primary purpose of generating a magical effect or experience.
Admittedly the line between the two branches can, at times, get a tad fuzzy. In general, the more a magical operation resembles mysticism, the more likely it is to be esoteric in nature.
different kinds of magic?
According to anyone with an opinion, magic can be broken down and subdivided into a painful array of distinct kinds, types, sorts, and categories. At one time I had a whole tree of magical classification to demonstrate my dorkiness to all comers.
It’s just not needed. The pain and worry of the endeavor much outweighs the pretend benefits of the work.
While an exhaustive, all-encompassing diagram is superfluous, a couple more headings beyond “Branch” could be useful.
Class of Magic
This heading actually has utility because it distinguishes what is involved in the learning and execution of any magic. The two classes are “High” and “Low” and they have nothing to do with morality or good vs. evil.
High Magic
High magic is often but not always ritualistic and/or ceremonial. It involves often complicated procedures like calling a spirit through a full hierarchy of beings or building a symbol through other, prerequisite symbols during an operation.
It may require the use and understanding of one or more specific languages or call for particular textual material. In the medieval Grimoire period high magical literature demanded a full room consecrated and dedicated solely to magical study and practice.
That’s a tall order for some people today. During the Middle Ages only nobility, clergy, and merchant class could afford to surrender a whole room solely for magical use.
High magic is, in a very real sense, aristocratic magic. It is the Gucci or Ferrari of the arcane arts.
It costs more because it requires highly specific and at times difficult to obtain or expensive ingredients and components, including specific ritual attire and elaborate props.
High magic is sometimes concerned with the pedigree or lineage of a practitioner. It involves active initiatory procedures and might even require membership to a particular lodge or access to a specific teacher.
The magical methods and techniques are also typically more complicated and more difficult to learn that those of lower magical work. The use of wands and other tools, multi-step acts, and precise timing of operation are all marks of high magical work. If we’re being blunt, and I try to be, high magic also offers a magician access to a loftier range of goals, and can understandably generate greater power towards achieving one’s aims.
There are exceptions, like epic natural talent or other unusual circumstances. In most cases, however, high magic simply offers higher returns than low magic.
After all, as the first axiom of magic tells us: Input equals output, or the effort applied determines the rewards received.
Low Magic
If high magic is Gucci, low magic Carharrt. High magic being the equivalent of Ferrari, low magic corresponds to Ford.
Carharrt is great. It stands the test of rugged work over time.
I love Ford trucks. I’ve owned three; two rangers and an F-250.
There’s nothing wrong with, nothing weak or shabby about low magic. You can kick some serious ass and do some amazing things with the straightforward, uncomplicated, accessible arcane methods of this class.
Low magic usually calls for everyday ingredients that are already in many homes. While timing can be important, often low magic can be performed at the drop of a hat any time of the day, week, or month.
Low magic can involve rituals and magic circles but typically lacks the complex operations and layered workflows of high magic.
This class of magic doesn’t require learning any languages or even involve formal initiations in most cases. It is the magic of the everyday individual.
As you can see, it’s fair to say the class of magic is a good indicator of the complexity, preparatory work, and financial cost involved.