Low Magic
Low magic is perhaps the broadest category of magic there is, and with the expansion and growth of the various modern, New Age faiths and philosophies it is only growing. Why is this? Low Magic is spiritual practice that does not require specific ceremony and ritual - it does not demand specific forms and practices or even specific words or tools. Whereas High Magic may require that you wear specific clothing, have a special altar built for your specific purpose, or even have whole rooms dedicated to your purpose (such as within the exploration of the Abramelin Operation), Low Magic frequently requires nothing more than the individual's will and maybe a handful of materials.
Beyond this, Low Magic typically involves spells that seek to offer tangible benefit to yourself. Obviously, this includes an enormous rage of spellcraft, including many varieties of protection spells, money drawing magic, spells of good luck and love spells, and generally the whole host of hexes, curses, and jinxes.
This encompasses a full range of folk magic and spirituality from a wide variety of regions, throughout all of the populated continents, making it likely by far the most popular and preferred variety of the magic (of the two) that is practiced. Why is this? In general terms, Low Magic is practical magic. It is the magic used to achieve goals, and most frequently used to help achieve the goals of purest intention and desire. It can take place any time, any where, and without ritual or ceremony. It does not always require specific, expensive ingredients, astrological timing, or even an intensive study or understanding of ancient traditions. Low magic is every day magic.
Beyond this, Low Magic typically involves spells that seek to offer tangible benefit to yourself. Obviously, this includes an enormous rage of spellcraft, including many varieties of protection spells, money drawing magic, spells of good luck and love spells, and generally the whole host of hexes, curses, and jinxes.
This encompasses a full range of folk magic and spirituality from a wide variety of regions, throughout all of the populated continents, making it likely by far the most popular and preferred variety of the magic (of the two) that is practiced. Why is this? In general terms, Low Magic is practical magic. It is the magic used to achieve goals, and most frequently used to help achieve the goals of purest intention and desire. It can take place any time, any where, and without ritual or ceremony. It does not always require specific, expensive ingredients, astrological timing, or even an intensive study or understanding of ancient traditions. Low magic is every day magic.
High Magic
High Magic on the other hand is far more formal. Steeped in ancient tradition, it is most frequently found in formal arts of magic and immersed in ancient traditions such as the Hermetic Arts, the magical aspects of Alchemy, or Sacred Geometry, the Hebrew Kabbalah, and other such practices that have influenced New Age practice and tradition. Many of these influence require a great deal of ritual and ceremony. It is in these arts where concepts such as casting a circle, invoking deities, and evoking spirits is most common. In New Age practice, this is perhaps most clearly illustrated in the modern practices and formal ceremonies observed within the various traditions of Wicca.
The other quality of High Magic that differentiates it from Low Magic, as is perhaps most commonly accepted, is that High Magic is generally supposed to possess no other goal than communion with Divinities, Spirits, Angels, Demons, and other such entities in a search for enlightenment and understanding within one's own spiritual path. Often in modern practice this may be part of a pathworking practice, wherein we conquer demons or otherwise seek the guidance of angels and spirits and the divinities we worship to aid us in become more in tune with ourselves, the world around us, and the divinities themselves.
This leaves High Magic narrowed to a much smaller spectrum of common practices within the modern methods that we have found in Low Magic. However, when you look more closely, you will see that many of these practices have carried over to influence the folk lore and New Age belief of Low Magic. The two are hopelessly intermingled within the spiritual practices of most, leaving the majority of us finding our magical tradition residing somewhere in the middle.
The other quality of High Magic that differentiates it from Low Magic, as is perhaps most commonly accepted, is that High Magic is generally supposed to possess no other goal than communion with Divinities, Spirits, Angels, Demons, and other such entities in a search for enlightenment and understanding within one's own spiritual path. Often in modern practice this may be part of a pathworking practice, wherein we conquer demons or otherwise seek the guidance of angels and spirits and the divinities we worship to aid us in become more in tune with ourselves, the world around us, and the divinities themselves.
This leaves High Magic narrowed to a much smaller spectrum of common practices within the modern methods that we have found in Low Magic. However, when you look more closely, you will see that many of these practices have carried over to influence the folk lore and New Age belief of Low Magic. The two are hopelessly intermingled within the spiritual practices of most, leaving the majority of us finding our magical tradition residing somewhere in the middle.
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