I go by many names, but one that is often whispered in awe and wonder is Magic. Yes, that's right, my name is Magic. It's a name that carries a weight, a sense of mystery and enchantment. People often ask how I acquired such a name, and the truth is, it's a name that found me. Growing up, I always had a fascination with the supernatural. I was captivated by stories of witches and wizards, of spells and potions, of things that defied the laws of nature.
I was captivated by stories of witches and wizards, of spells and potions, of things that defied the laws of nature. As a child, I would spend hours practicing illusions and tricks, trying to make the impossible become possible. But it wasn't until a chance encounter with an old magician that my true journey with magic began.
Wicca (n.)
An Old English masc. noun meaning "male witch, wizard, soothsayer, sorcerer, astrologer, magician;" see witch. Use of the word in modern contexts traces to English folklorist Gerald Gardner (1884-1964), who is said to have joined circa 1939 an occult group in New Forest, Hampshire, England, for which he claimed an unbroken tradition to medieval times. Gardner seems to have first used it in print in 1954, in his book "Witchcraft Today" ("Witches were the Wica or wise people, with herbal knowledge and a working occult teaching usually used for good . "). In published and unpublished material, he apparently only ever used the word as a mass noun referring to adherents of the practice and not as the name of the practice itself. Some of his followers continue to use it in this sense. According to Gardner's book "The Meaning of Witchcraft" (1959), the word, as used in the initiation ceremony, played a key role in his experience:
I realised that I had stumbled upon something interesting; but I was half-initiated before the word, 'Wica' which they used hit me like a thunderbolt, and I knew where I was, and that the Old Religion still existed. And so I found myself in the Circle, and there took the usual oath of secrecy, which bound me not to reveal certain things.
In the late 1960s the term came into use as the title of a modern pagan movement associated with witchcraft. The first printed reference in this usage seems to be 1969, in "The Truth About Witchcraft" by freelance author Hans Holzer:
If the practice of the Old Religion, which is also called Wicca (Craft of the Wise), and thence, witchcraft, is a reputable and useful cult, then it is worthy of public interest.
And, quoting witch Alex Sanders:
"No, a witch wedding still needs a civil ceremony to make it legal. Wicca itself as a religion is not registered yet. But it is about time somebody registered it, I think. I've done all I can to call attention to our religion."
Sanders was a highly visible representative of neo-pagan Witchcraft in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time he appears to have popularized use of the term in this sense. Later books c. 1989 teaching modernized witchcraft using the same term account for its rise and popularity, especially in U.S.
Entries linking to wicca
Old English wicce "female magician, sorceress," in later use especially "a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their cooperation to perform supernatural acts," fem. of Old English wicca "sorcerer, wizard, man who practices witchcraft or magic," from verb wiccian "to practice witchcraft" (compare Low German wikken , wicken "to use witchcraft," wikker , wicker "soothsayer").
OED says of uncertain origin; Liberman says "None of the proposed etymologies of witch is free from phonetic or semantic difficulties." Klein suggests connection with Old English wigle "divination," and wig, wih "idol." Watkins says the nouns represent a Proto-Germanic *wikkjaz "necromancer" (one who wakes the dead), from PIE *weg-yo- , from PIE root *weg- "to be strong, be lively."
That wicce once had a more specific sense than the later general one of "female magician, sorceress" perhaps is suggested by the presence of other words in Old English describing more specific kinds of magical craft. In the Laws of Ælfred (c. 890), witchcraft was specifically singled out as a woman's craft, whose practitioners were not to be suffered to live among the West Saxons:
Ða fæmnan þe gewuniað onfon gealdorcræftigan & scinlæcan & wiccan, ne læt þu ða libban.
The other two words combined with it here are gealdricge , a woman who practices "incantations," and scinlæce "female wizard, woman magician," from a root meaning "phantom, evil spirit."
Another word that appears in the Anglo-Saxon laws is lyblæca "wizard, sorcerer," but with suggestions of skill in the use of drugs, because the root of the word is lybb "drug, poison, charm" (see leaf (n.)). Lybbestre was a fem. word meaning "sorceress," and lybcorn was the name of a certain medicinal seed (perhaps wild saffron). Weekley notes possible connection to Gothic weihs "holy" and German weihan "consecrate," and writes, "the priests of a suppressed religion naturally become magicians to its successors or opponents." Whatever the English word's origin, the use of a "poisoner" word for "witch, sorceress" parallels that of the Hebrew word used for "witch, sorceress" in the Levitical condemnation.
In Anglo-Saxon glossaries, wicca renders Latin augur (c. 1100), and wicce stands for "pythoness, divinatricem ." In the "Three Kings of Cologne" (c. 1400) wicca translates Magi :
Þe paynyms . cleped þe iij kyngis Magos , þat is to seye wicchis.
The glossary translates Latin necromantia ( "demonum invocatio" ) with galdre, wiccecræft . The Anglo-Saxon poem called "Men's Crafts" (also "The Gifts of Men") has wiccræft , which appears to be the same word, and by its context means "skill with horses." In a c. 1250 translation of "Exodus," witches is used of the Egyptian midwives who save the newborn sons of the Hebrews: "Ðe wicches hidden hem for-ðan, Biforen pharaun nolden he ben."
Witch in reference to a man survived in dialect into 20c., but the fem. form was so dominant by 1601 that men-witches or he-witch began to be used. Extended sense of "old, ugly, and crabbed or malignant woman" is from early 15c; that of "young woman or girl of bewitching aspect or manners" is first recorded 1740. Witch doctor is from 1718; applied to African magicians from 1836.
At this day it is indifferent to say in the English tongue, 'she is a witch,' or 'she is a wise woman.' [Reginald Scot, "The Discoverie of Witchcraft," 1584]
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to be strong, be lively."
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit vajah "force, strength," vajayati "drives on;" Latin vigil "watchful, awake," vigere "be lively, thrive," velox "fast, lively," vegere "to enliven," vigor "liveliness, activity;" Old English wacan "to become awake," German wachen "to be awake," Gothic wakan "to watch."
late Old English, wil "stratagem, trick, sly artifice," perhaps from Old North French *wile (Old French guile ), or directly from a Scandinavian source (compare Old Norse vel "trick, craft, fraud," vela "defraud"). Perhaps ultimately related to Old English wicca "wizard" (see Wicca). Lighter sense of "amorous or playful trick" is from c. 1600.
Old English wicce "female magician, sorceress," in later use especially "a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their cooperation to perform supernatural acts," fem. of Old English wicca "sorcerer, wizard, man who practices witchcraft or magic," from verb wiccian "to practice witchcraft" (compare Low German wikken , wicken "to use witchcraft," wikker , wicker "soothsayer").
He saw the fire in my eyes, the hunger for something beyond the mundane, and took me under his wing. He taught me the secrets of the trade, the art of misdirection and sleight of hand. He showed me that magic was not just hocus pocus, but a craft that required skill, dedication, and an almost scientific understanding of human psychology. As I grew older, I realized that magic was not just about performing tricks or entertaining an audience. It was about something much deeper, much more profound. It was about creating a sense of wonder, of awe, of sparking that childlike curiosity that usually dissipates as we grow older. Magic is about challenging what we think we know, about pushing the boundaries of what is possible. It reminds us that there is still so much we don't understand about the world, and that there is beauty in that uncertainty. But magic is not just about the tricks and the illusions. It is also about the connections we make with others. As a magician, I have had the privilege of seeing the look of pure joy and wonder on a child's face as they witness something seemingly impossible. I have seen skeptical adults let go of their cynicism, even if just for a moment, and embrace that sense of wonder once again. So yes, my name is Magic. And I carry that name with a sense of responsibility and pride. I am a gatekeeper to a world of enchantment, of illusion and wonder. My goal is to share that magic with others, to ignite that spark of curiosity and remind them that there is still so much to discover in this world. Magic is not just a name, it is a way of life. It is a philosophy, a belief in the extraordinary. It is a reminder that even in our everyday lives, there is magic to be found if we are willing to open our eyes and see it..
Reviews for "Unleash your inner magician with 'My Name is Magic"
- Samantha - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "My Name is Magic". The plot was weak and the characters felt underdeveloped. The story lacked depth and emotion, and I found it hard to connect with the protagonist. The writing style was also quite mediocre, with confusing sentence structures and awkward dialogue. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it.
- John - 1 star - "My Name is Magic" was a complete waste of time. The storyline was predictable and unoriginal, with no plot twists or surprises. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real depth. I also found the writing to be unimpressive, with cliched descriptions and flat dialogue. The book felt like a poor attempt at capturing the magic of other fantasy novels, but it fell flat on every level. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
- Emily - 2 stars - I couldn't get into "My Name is Magic" at all. The pacing was slow and the story took too long to get interesting. The world-building was also lacking, with minimal detail and explanation. The characters were forgettable and didn't inspire any emotional connection. The book had potential, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver. I had high hopes for this novel, but it ended up being a disappointment.
- Michael - 1 star - "My Name is Magic" was a complete disaster. The writing was amateurish and the grammar and punctuation errors were distracting. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with random events thrown in without any real purpose. The characters were poorly developed and their actions felt forced and unrealistic. The dialogue was painful to read, with awkward exchanges and stilted conversations. Overall, this book was a mess and I regret wasting my time on it.