THE DIFFERENCE OF HIGH AND LOW MAGIC

It is an unfortunate tendency in Occultism to refer to two types of magic as Low and High. Too often this is interpreted as being a moral judgement rather than a technical descriptor. Low and High do not indicate moral value but technical quality.

We use the terms High and Low to indicate source, yet this is still based on a medieval cosmology rather than true analysis of the energy. High Magic is that which uses pure energy drawn directly through the Source mitigated by very specific forms and ritual in order to shape the force in accordance with the intent of the magician. Low magic draws energy up from the earth, energy which has been softened (for lack of a better word) by existing within the manifest world around the magician. One might better be called "Gaia Magic" or "Earth Magic" and the other "Sun Magic."

In fact this works much better as an analogy. The High Magician draws his force directly from the center of Life and Light which manifests as the Sun in our cosmos. The Low Magician draws on the same energy but after it has been absorbed and mutated within the living earth upon which he stands.

If one takes a sick person and applies Colour-Sound therapy this is High Magic. To make them a draught of herbs and giving them certain stones is Low Magic. Neither of them is better or more effective, they simply work on different parts of the individual in question. One works more directly with his physical vehicle, the other more directly with his Astral and Ethereal vehicles. Would I say one is better than the other? Depends on the ailment. Personally I'd say that both are better than one or the other and that together they have a greater chance of success.

I believe that the problem has originated in the difference in overall approach. The Low Magic is the magic of the common folk. This is the magic of plants and flowers and stones and trees, the magic of the old wise woman or the elderly apothacary. It is common because it is gentle and easy to work with.

The High Magic tends to be the province of the intellectual, the educated, those who are willing to learn the nuances of dealing with direct current power. To modify this takes great concentration and nuance. Not unlike being a low-level computer programmer vs. an apps user.

It also depends on how you define magic. Our tradition uses the definition of "making changes in consciousness at will" which is slightly different than the popular definitions of changing the universe in accordance with one's own Will. With Low Magic the work is very practical, we're dealing with candle magic, herbs, stones, etc... With High Magic we are altering the basic operating code of the Subconscious mind, implanting new programs and even altering perceptions, personalities and reality tunnels.

This has lead to a definite separation between practitioners which I find sad, but too often it is true. Low Magicians see the High Magicians as self important snobs, and many of them are. High Magicians see Low Magicians as hicks and hippies, and there is some truth to this as well. But as with any generalisations, there are always exceptions and the rare individual who is capable of seeing the value in both approaches. Perhaps the stereotypical High/Low magician is what happens early on, when they discover that they are special and have yet to realise that they are more a part of the whole than separate therefrom.

The division is a sad one since it often seems a self fulfilling prophecy. The Low Magician often goes out of their way to be folksy and hip, the High Magician goes out of his way to show off his intellectual prowess and how stunningly appointed is his Ivory Tower with grades and seals and titles. They create these images which are then observed and drive further the separation between the two types.

To my mind Witches and Wizards really should get along better, look for the similarities and see how the different methods can benefit a total person rather than finding ways to drench one another in derision. Legitimate traditions have value, whether they work primarily with Nature Magic or directly with the One Source. One great Adept I once knew said to me that he felt very strongly that the Wiccan and Magician traditions need to be blended into a single working tradition, and that in the distant past, this was the original intent. I have always agreed with him.