The working definition of magic here at Two Dreams is "changing experience through indirect, or sly/clever means."
That leaves a lot of room for interpretation, because in my opinion, magic can be anything from sigils, to language in all its forms.
But despite that clarification, there's likely to be many out there that need a little more proof that "magic" is a real thing.
Because of that, I offer you four stories of magic working in my own life, in hopes that you do your own (potentially fruitful) experimentation.
Let's begin.
1) A Story of Sigil Magic Working For Me
I've had many successful sigils in my life, but let's talk about one found in a book called 'Sigils of Power'.
It's called "Attract a Job To Suit Your Needs."
I was experiencing a job drought, and as multiple life pressure points began making me feel like the roof of existence was caving in on me, I went to this sigil.
I charged it three times, and the next day I got contacted by a potential employer.
After going into the office for a quick interview, the job, and lifeline, was mine.
Now, for full disclosure, there were other times I've charged that sigil and didn't get the same result. Sometimes the 'job' I attracted was a new personal project related to my own passions, like something with this site.
But I like to thing of a lot of magic as me giving myself the best chance of tilting the odds in my favor. If something 'works' 1 out of 20 times, I'd still consider it worth doing if the time investment is minimal (and it is).
If you're curious, and have a real need, the right sigil at the right time might be your best ally if you give it a try.
2) A Story of A St. Expedite Petition Working For Me
I mentioned a variation of this story in my 'Prescription Magic' post, along with my advice on requesting results from St. Expedite, so I do recommend checking there before you break out the rum and pound cake.
But to make the story quick: I wasn't happy with my salary at a company I was working at (who isn't).
Because of that, I did what I sometimes do when I hit a brick wall: I made the aforementioned booze and baked good offering to St. Expedite.
In that petition, I asked for a two dollar raise, and specified the deadline I wanted it by, and I ended up stumbling into some strange, less-than-ideal events.
Ultimately, I had to handle a direct report's personal problems that were spilling over into work problems, and I fortunately did so with tact and empathy.
Because of my response, my performance got noticed by the CEO, and he asked me to name the raise that I wanted. I said two dollars (I probably aimed a little too low), and I got it.
I've had St. Expedite petitions that fell on their face, just to provide full transparency, but I've had many successes as well.
Before you go procuring your alcohol, though, please read what I wrote in the previously-linked-to 'Prescription Magic' post to make things as easy as possible for yourself.
3) A Story of Language Magic (In The Form of A Book) Working For Me
The causes aren't completely clear. It's possibly because I was once literally starving, but binge eating became a big problem for me at one point of my life.
If you have any experience, it's like you're dragging a ball and chain controlled by your pantry.
As is often the case, I stumbled into a research windfall and found an author named Allen Carr, who was famous for helping people quit smoking through his books and seminars.
While that wasn't my problem, he did have two books I picked up: 'The Easy Way To Lose Weight', and 'The Easy Way to Quit Emotional Eating'.
I read both books, very quickly. And just as quick, my eating habits changed.
Once again, out went the sugar-y foods that I previously quit in my life, and gone was the compulsive overeating.
The language and reframing and repetition of the books changed how I saw the subject of food. And just like magic, I put the changes into place in a way that I'm still maintaining.
If you struggle with either of those issues, those books have my highest recommendations. And they're kind of like their own grimoires.
4) A Story of Awareness Magic Working For Me
W. Timothy Gallwey has said that "Awareness is Curative." And his teachings about "critical variables" have inspired my Awareness Sigils post, and influenced my approach with such things.
I've found that keeping my awareness on things regularly has helped produce the results I want. For example, simply noting what your bank account says each day can get you back on the right track, naturally.
But the one I'll discuss here is a critical variable/awareness sigil I adopted from my time reading the aforementioned Allen Carr books: "The hunger gauge."
Basically, you check in with yourself and ask where your hunger is on a scale of 1-20. 1 being starvation and 20 being the limits of the human stomach, with around 10 being where you might want to be if your goal is losing weight.
I would note my number at different times of the day, and by the end of about 30 days, ten pounds had gone away, without me counting calories. That's the power of our awareness.
And it's representative of my definition of magic being: "changing experience through indirect or sly/clever means."
I didn't try to force myself to eat more, I just became aware of how hungry I was and the problem took care of itself.
Lessons and Final Thoughts
It's said that magic often works by finding the path of least resistance to get what you specified in your intention.
The times it does 'work' could be a bullseye, or it could be a disappointment.
But a regular practice of some form of magic can give you an appreciation for the accidental and unexpected successes that can doubly make life a little more interesting.
As with everything, moderation is the key. Don't become obsessive, but do become strategic, and magic, of any of the forms it comes in, can be a tool you use to live a life you want to live.