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| “ | It's a craft... witchcraft, which means you have to figure out how to access and control it | ” |
— Harry Greenwood giving helpful advice to the Charmed Ones[src]
| ||
Mel Vera casting a spell, one of the basic elements of magic
Magic is a supernatural force that can alter the fabric of reality at fundamental levels.
One who is born with and practices magic is usually called a "witch". However, aside from witches, there are many other magical beings that exist such as demons and whitelighters.
Those that use magic must constantly hide it from mortals to prevent exposure and as such mortals are not aware of the existance of magic and the supernatural creatures that wield it.
Overview
In humans magic is an inborn trait, inherited from parent to child. A magical human will usually learn to hone their craft from their parents but in times of need the parents might simply bind the child's powers until they are deemed ready to use them responsibly. In these cases the magic might spiral out of control when the powers are activated and some work is required for the practioneer to gain the skill and strength to wield their magic efficiently and safely.
Magic is both a genetic heredity and a studied technique, and one needs to be trained to properly hone their skill in magic.
Deities and other Higher Beings
Some advanced spells requires witches to call upon deities and other higher beings as part of their incantations. Some of the higher beings that can be invoked are:
- Babalú-Ayé: The Exorcism Ritual.[1]
- The Moirai: Invoking the Moirai spell.[2]
- Temeluchus: Tartarus Imprisonment spell.[3]
Universal Laws and Limits
Although magic itself is considered amoral, it can have complications and some spells are subject to certain universal and moral laws.
- Personal Gain: Spells rely on a system of balance. So when magic is used for personal gain (e.g. say to wallow in the superficialities of the Greek system), there will be personal consequences.
- Death: Magic cannot bring people back to life, even by indirect means (such as changing the past).
Methodology
Spells
See main article: Spell Casting
One of the defining characteristics of a witch is their ability to cast spells; a "spell" typically being the word used to signify the means employed to carry out a magical action. This allows users to magically alter reality to a wide number of effects or to evoke forces to change their surroundings. A spell could consist of a ritual action, a set of words, a verse, or any combination of these. For reasons unknown, the majority of spells used by practitioners of witchcraft are spoken in Latin.
Potions
See Main Article: Potion Making
A potion is a concoction of ingredients that have magical properties when mixed in the correct fashion. Magical potions can use a variety of ingredients, both herbal as well chemical, for those witches versed in modern science.
Powers
See Main Page: Power
Magic can manifest as a specific supernatural ability or power (e.g. telekinesis, mind-reading, cryokinesis, freezing time and teleportation), which allows one to perform specific magical feats without the need of a spell or potion. Powers vary with every magical being; with witches they are usually a reflection of their personality. Powers are usually accessed by one's emotions, mind or instinct.