The concept of authority in literature has often been explored and questioned. In the case of the apathetic magic book, we see a unique portrayal of authority as something that lacks motivation or interest. This notion challenges the traditional understanding of authority as powerful and commanding. The apathetic magic book, as a symbol of authority, represents a lack of enthusiasm and engagement. Its pages may be filled with spells and incantations, but its disinterested nature renders it ineffective. This apathetic portrayal raises the question of whether authority without passion can truly have an impact.

Practical Magic: A Magical Media Analysis

Welcome to the first entry in the Magical Media Analysis series of posts. For this post, I will be taking a look at the magic within one of my all-time favorite films (and the book it is based upon), Practical Magic. The original book by Alice Hoffman spawned three subsequent volumes, really proving to flesh out the universe. Witches’ marks and witches floating in water instead of sinking are major plot points during later prequels. Both of these are rooted in witchy folklore going back centuries. In the Practical Magic book series witches’ marks are birthmarks that denote a natural-born witch, whereas in the old folklore, the mark was said to be where a witch fed her familiar. The floating in the water was why some witches attempted to be drowned during witch trials to prove that they were witches if they floated.

At the beginning of the film and the novel, a young Sally and Gillian watch the Aunts perform a love spell for a desperate woman. This included the woman pushing a needle into a bird and begging a man to love her to the point of obsession. In the book, it is elaborated that she got what she wanted, but was very unhappy as he was truly obsessed and she was miserable at being oppressed by his clinging obsession with her! As Aunt Jet said in the film “Be careful what you wish for.” She was not and bore the consequences. This whole scene shows a lot of the danger of love spells. The way the spell is shown to be cast is very rooted in old folk magic practices surrounding love and lust. After this, Sally casts her famous love spell hoping to conjure a man that does not exist, only to meet him one day many years later. The love spell that the Aunts cast on Sally is what led to her marriage and the birth of her daughters, along with her husband’s death due to the curse. The family curse is also rooted in misused love magic, as Maria Owens cursed her descendants by alchemizing her pain at having been betrayed in love into a spell that would prevent her from ever having her heart broken again.

Herbalism is used a lot in the film. Sally runs her own botanical shop where she sells witchy herbal remedies to the town folk, even if they do not like that she is a witch, and refuse to accept her fully into the community. We also see herbalism play an important role in Gillian’s story. She regularly used a small dose of belladonna to calm down her boyfriend Jimmy so that she could get some sleep. Ultimately, this belladonna is the cause of death for Jimmy, as Sally overdoses him, making the sedative take on its poisonous quality causing mortality! Belladonna is famously a sedative that is highly toxic in large quantities. It is this quality of toxicity that is well known of this herb that is called “pretty lady” in Italian which makes its use in the film and book so ideal, after all, it is given to Jimmy by a pretty lady ending in his demise!

Finally, I want to discuss Gillian’s brand of magic. She is not as adept at traditional magic as her family, or at least takes longer than Sally to learn when they are girls. Yet, Gillian has her own form of magic that none of the others seem to possess. She has a natural ability to use Glamour magic and sex magic. It is this natural allure that she used to empower her spells and her energetic influence is what caused so much to occur during the plot. I believe it can even be read that Jimmy’s obsession with her is due to her natural ability with Glamour and sex magic creating an aura of allure that would overpower his senses. In some ways, she is the most powerful of all the Owens. Even her famous snake tattoo twined around her wrist is a symbol of her sexual allure! Glamour is a favorite form of magic to me, as it is deeply associated with Faery women. The way that Gillian is able to attract men to her like moths to a flame are also how Faery women attract men in old folklore tales and Arthurian legends. Jimmy’s obsession along with the botched attempt to bring him back from the dead is what caused the spiritual haunting that is the climax of the plot. In the beginning, the first sign is the roses that spring up overnight, red roses as a symbol of romantic and sexual love (another herbalism and sex magic signal in the plot). Later this haunting would become more embodied and she would have to rely on the help of her sister, aunts, and other women in the community to give her strength to conquer her demons, in the form of her ex-boyfriend Jimmy! I adore the climax of the film as a sisterly love tale, as I am all for sisterhood and women helping one another, but I also adore that Gillian gets to fall in love with a worthy man in the novel’s plot. She finally learned what a healthy relationship was, one that was very sexual but still supportive and caring!

All in all, this is one of the best examples of Magical Media that has a basis in real-world magical practices and folkloric evidence! I highly recommend this as a good source to show what actually being a magical practitioner looks like in the real world. I hope you have enjoyed this first Magical Media Analysis. What is your favorite thing about Practical Magic? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is one of the covers of the novel. I found the image on https://alicehoffman.com/books/practical-magic/.

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• Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
• Practical Magic (1998)

Practical Magic

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Symbols & Motifs

Black Soap

The aunts have a tradition of making black soap each year, which is supposed to have special beautifying properties: “Maybe it was the black soap she washed with that made her skin seem illuminated; whatever the reason, she was hot to the touch and impossible to ignore” (25). Today, charcoal-based beauty products are popular and can be found in health food stores worldwide. At the book’s publication of 1995, however, these were less common and likely would have been met with both intrigue and suspicion from its target audience—women concerned with beauty and aging. This shows that the aunts are not only ahead of their time but have the modern equivalent of sacred knowledge that is still out of reach for many people.

At the same time, this black soap becomes a symbol of the aunts, the Owens home, and their particular otherness. Once Gillian rejects her heritage, she rejects the black soap even though she once benefited from it. She can’t stand to be reminded of her past, so she throws the soap away as an embodiment of painful memories: “The black soap the aunts send as a present every year has been taken out of the soapdish and has been replaced with a bar of clear, rose-scented soap from France” (82).

Practical Sigil Magic: Creating Personal Symbols for Success

Practical Sigil Magic is widely regarded as the definitive guide to the topic. Unavailable for a number of years and long sought-after by magicians, this classic work is now available once again.

Sigil magic is one of the most efficient and economical of magical disciplines. It can be performed without complicated rituals or paraphernalia, is independent of philosophical and dogmatic premises, and can be learned easily and quickly. Most important, it will give even beginning magicians the chance to work with the power of the Will and enhance their own abilities. This classic reference work will provide magicians—from novice to adept— with instruction that will empower and advance their magical practice.

Praise:
"Frater U∴D∴ writes from a background of extensive practical achievement and theoretical knowledge to present a book of magical techniques for those who dare to use them."—Peter J. Carroll, author of Liber Null & Psychonaut

• Тело, разум и дух

This apathetic portrayal raises the question of whether authority without passion can truly have an impact. Furthermore, the apathetic magic book serves as a critique of authoritarian systems that rely solely on their position of power. It highlights the importance of genuine interest and passion in wielding authority.

Связанные категории

• Демонология и сатанизм
• Язычество и неоязычество
• Нью эйдж и духовность
• Occult & Paranormal
• Wicca / Witchcraft

Отзывы о Practical Sigil Magic

27 оценок 2 отзыва

Without a genuine connection to the subject matter or those under its influence, authority becomes nothing more than a hollow facade. The apathetic magic book can also be seen as a metaphor for the disillusionment and disconnection that can arise from an abuse of authority. When those in power become apathetic and uninterested in the welfare of others, their authority loses meaning and their actions become detached from any moral compass. In conclusion, the apathetic magic book challenges our understanding of authority and its effectiveness. It highlights the importance of genuine passion and engagement in wielding authority, while also critiquing authoritarian systems that lack these qualities. Through its portrayal, the apathetic magic book encourages us to question the true nature of power and the impact it can have when rooted in apathy..

Reviews for "The Hidden Authority of Apathetic Magic Books"

1. John - 2 stars - I really didn't enjoy "Authority apathetic magic book". I found the writing style to be disjointed and confusing, with the plot jumping all over the place. The characters were also extremely unlikable and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.

2. Sarah - 1 star - "Authority apathetic magic book" was a complete waste of time for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I struggled to maintain interest in the story. The magic system was poorly explained, leaving me confused and frustrated. Additionally, the dialogues felt forced and unrealistic. Overall, I found this book to be a boring and frustrating read.

3. David - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Authority apathetic magic book", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The world-building was lackluster, and I struggled to visualize the settings. The characters lacked development and depth, making it difficult for me to care about their journey. The plot also felt predictable and didn't offer any surprises. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it.

Understanding the Role of Authority in Apathetic Magic Books