Why is there a K in Magick?
Is that a typo?
If you read about witchcraft or spiritualism you’ve probably seen the word magick. That K at the end is no typo, it has a purpose. The K is used to differentiate from prestidigitation or illusion and the world of the occult and witchcraft. Unlike the world of magic that involves illusions and showmanship, magick is tied to mystics and the spiritual world. The magickal world is about aligning your physical reality with the goals and dreams of your higher self through ritual or spellwork. I’ve always felt practicing magick can be simplified down to physics and therapy.
The physics aspect is explained by vibration and frequency. Everything in reality is made of atoms and molecules, neither of which are stationary. Since atoms and molecules are constantly vibrating everything in life has a vibrational frequency no matter how solid it feels. Through rituals in magick you seek to align your frequency with the frequency of the reality you want to manifest.
The other side of magick is the therapy part. Intention is Everything and Everything is Intention. When you prepare a ritual or spellwork you look for components based on their vibrational frequency and the frequency of your goal. You can choose the ingredients, day of the week or moon phase all based on what aligns with your goal. That mindfulness and intention is where you will find the therapeutic aspect.
A brief history of the K in magick.
The spelling of magick with a K comes from Old English dating back to the early 1700s. It was used to describe practices of the mystical arts and spiritualism. It came back into use after being popularized by Aleister Crowley. The famed occultist used the K spelling to separate and define his practice. He was also influenced by numerology and “K is the eleventh letter of several alphabets and is the principal number of magick, because it is the number attributed to the Qliphoth - the underworld of demonic and chaotic forces that have to be conquered before magick can be performed”
-Kenneth Grant & John Symonds preface to Magick In Theory and Practice (1973 Edition) by Aleister Crowley
Why do I use the K?
I can’t remember when I first saw the word magick. At first I ran with the surface level reasoning to differentiate my spiritual beliefs from tricks and illusions. Over time though it has resonated with me on a deeper level. It still has the same base reasoning but I feel it much deeper than when I was younger. The spelling to me represents the foundation of my beliefs. It is my commitment to follow the old ways while I find my own path. It is a reminder that a small detail can make life a more mystical place.
