Section I

Introduction to Metaphysics

“New Age” philosophy is actually thousands of years old.
What follows is a Biblical reference to out-of-body travel:

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven–whether
in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was
caught up into Paradise–whether in the body or out of the body I do not know,
God knows– and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
–2 Corinthians 12

From hexes to faith healing, the mystic powers of the human mind have been recorded since the beginning of history. To learn such skills, one must supposedly join a cult, meet at midnight in abandoned buildings, speak in an ancient tongue, and sacrifice innocent animals — but this is not so. The long-hidden secrets of witchcraft are easily learned and understood, if only one is willing to discipline himself in the art. There are no books to sign in blood, no souls to sell, and no secret handshakes to learn. In fact, when applied correctly, metaphysics is as simple and safe as baking a cake.

Of course, magic doesn’t really exist — at least until our scientists can prove it, anyway. As far as authenticity goes, I will not state here that magic is anything more than a theory. Angelfire cannot possibly be expected to validate my claims, nor take responsibility for someone who took the course far too seriously. Therefore, consider this course to be an entertaining psychological study in the theory of metaphysics, written by a scholar of the field. If you are offended in any way by the subject matter, then you may complain to me at [redacting for spambots] (or, likewise, ask me questions).

This course will attempt to teach you the core methods of magic that witches and other occultists use. A great deal of this is what is known as ESP, so you may also consider the following to be a training course in unlocking your hidden senses. You will also come to understand the theories behind out-of-body travel, spell-casting, and communicating with spirits. Since most of these topics are rarely delved into in Western philosophy, an open mind is essential.

When researching metaphysics, three sorts of traditions will stand out. First, there are the ancient texts with illegible gibberish in dead languages. Second, the feel-good visualizations of New Age authors, talking much but saying little. Third, the spiritual cults that claim you must follow their religion specifically before you can learn witchcraft. This course avoids all three traps. I’ve explained everything in layman’s terms, and avoided “fluff” as much as possible. If you wish, you can apply the skills herein to whichever faith you adhere to, or not at all.

You’ll notice that I don’t lay out any specific spells for you to use, specifying which incense to burn while holding this candle and chanting that mantra; this is because I don’t explain the what, I explain the why and how. (Although if you want to use such symbolic measures in your spells, I’ve included some examples in the addendum.) By the end of this course you should be able to patch together a spell for pretty much anything your creativity will allow. Witchcraft is an art form — you can use any variety of media to create a picture of every sort.

Section I Exercises

1. Honestly list the reasons you would want to learn magic. Know thy intentions and you will know thyself.
2. Write down any preconceptions you have about magic. Where does magic come from? Do spells have to rhyme? Etc. You may be surprised at how much your thoughts will change with a little experience.

Witchcraft from the Ground Up navigation
Preface | Section One | Section Two | Section Three | Section Four | Section Five | Section Six | Section Seven | Section Eight | Section Nine | Section Ten | Section Eleven | Section Twelve | Section Thirteen