The Threads That Bind Us

Successful magick is founded on four basic principles. These valuable skills are known as the “Four Powers of the Magus” or the “Witches’ Pyramid.” Each of them is based in one of the Four Elements:

Air (East) Noscere “To Know”

Knowledge is the first key to successful magick. You have to know what you are doing and how to do it. You have to know how to express your desires clearly in a way that the Universe will comprehend what you are asking for. You need to know that you will never know everything and seeking knowledge is a lifetime’s quest. You also need to know yourself!

Fire (South) Audere “To Dare”

Magick is an act of courage. It takes a great deal of courage to ask the Universe for what you want/need, and expect to get it! We are told our whole lives that magick is impossible, or if it is (such as in the form of miracles,) that we are not worthy. You must, if you wish to succeed at magick, dare to ask, and dare to receive as well! You must also dare to proceed even if you feel that your knowledge is less than perfect. How can anyone, including the Divine, know what you need unless you ask for it?

Water (West) Velle “To Will”

Focusing your Will is essential. In order to do this, you have to be able to know what your Will actually is! Then, you have to be able to concentrate that Will to manifest your desires, without getting in your own way. Since focusing your Will is both a conscious and an unconscious exercise, you must learn to master your subconscious mind through visualization, meditation, and self-exploration, maybe even therapy. You must not allow obstacles to stop you. As Doreen Valiente said, “Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let none stop you or turn you aside.”

Earth (North) Tacere “To Keep Silent”

Once it was believed that speaking about your magick reduced its power. Certainly, exposing your desires to others who may have desires that conflict with yours will cause interference, and exposing magick to those who doubt it means that your Will with have to contest with their doubt as well as your own! For this reason I don’t tend to speak about my magick until it has been achieved. Also, bragging, boasting or threatening others is ill-advised, and the true Magus/Witch recognizes that speech itself is a form of magick. Don’t wish harm on to others or spread gossip, and be careful what you wish for; you just might get it!

Spirit (Centre) Ire "To Go"

Together, the Four Powers create the ability "to go"; that is, to go forth with magick that moves and acts (though some systems do not include this fifth element, especially the traditional ones based in ceremonial magick, though it is implied.) If you Know what you need to do, Dare to do it, Will it into existence, and Keep Silent so that no one can interfere with your desire, and your magick will flow freely without any additional effort on your part, and you will achieve your magickal goals!

Blessed be,

True Will should spring, a fountain of Light, from within, and flow unchecked, seething with Love, into the Ocean of Life.

- Aleister Crowley, “Little Essays Towards Truth”