Magic with a "K"? Whaa?

[Antoninus Verus]

Ok, this is something thats bugged me for a long time. This is a question for the Pagan/Wiccans here.

Why spell magic with a "k"?

Ive heard two schools of thought on this one

1. "Magic" is ordinary stage magic, like pulling a rabbit out of a hat or card tricks. "Magick" is the natural forces and the ability to control them (Or words to that effect)

2. "Magick" is an attempt to be rebelious and stand out more by some Wiccans/Pagans and theres nothing wrong with spelling it "Magic"

So....whaaaa?

 

[pensive]

Why spell magic with a "k"?

I don't. Unless I'm talking about ceremonial magick. In that case, I spell it with a K because of Aliester Crowley and his influences on ceremonial magick.

1. "Magic" is ordinary stage magic, like pulling a rabbit out of a hat or card tricks. "Magick" is the natural forces and the ability to control them (Or words to that effect)

My personal theory, based on what I know at this time, is that this was an explanation that was created after the fact. In effect, a number of people saw others spelling it with a K and not knowing (or liking) the reason for it, came up with a suitable explanation for it. I base this in part on the fact that this explanation seems to pop up in the later part of the last century when the Pagan/New Age publishing industry really started taking off.

2. "Magick" is an attempt to be rebelious and stand out more by some Wiccans/Pagans and theres nothing wrong with spelling it "Magic"

I think this is a bit harsh, but there's a kernel of truth in it in some cases.

Now, I offer you a third school of thought:

3. Crowley started it. He was big into numerology and gematria (I may have misspelled it). Adding the K to "magick" was handy because it caused the word to work into his numerology and the rest of his magickal theories. I'm not familiar with the exact reasoning, as I'm by no means a ceremonialist. However, every person I know who has worked in ceremonial magick and/or has studied Crowley extensively express that the numerological reasons that Crowley gave are the most sound one's for this change.

 

[corvus_corax]

3. Crowley started it. He was big into numerology and gematria (I may have misspelled it). Adding the K to "magick" was handy because it caused the word to work into his numerology and the rest of his magickal theories. I'm not familiar with the exact reasoning, as I'm by no means a ceremonialist. However, every person I know who has worked in ceremonial magick and/or has studied Crowley extensively express that the numerological reasons that Crowley gave are the most sound one's for this change.

I've read this as well.
I find it funny though. "This word doesnt fit! So instead of taking that as it is and dealing with it, I'll just change the spelling of the word! Let's see....magicc....no.....magich.....no....majic.....no.....majik......no...
mahjic....no.....magick.....HEY whadya know?!? W00T!"

 

[pensive]

I find it funny though. "This word doesnt fit! So instead of taking that as it is and dealing with it, I'll just change the spelling of the word! Let's see....magicc....no.....magich.....no....majic.....no.....majik......no...
mahjic....no.....magick.....HEY whadya know?!? W00T!"

Well, in fairness, once upon a time, it was spelled "magick." I believe that would've been in Old English/Anglo-Saxon, but it could be Middle English, too. (Etymology is even less my strong point than CM. )

And besides, it no less much sense than reviving the Anglo-Saxon word for witch ("wicca") and using it as the name for a religion, I guess.

 

[corvus_corax]

Well, in fairness, once upon a time, it was spelled "magick." I believe that would've been in Old English/Anglo-Saxon, but it could be Middle English, too. (Etymology is even less my strong point than CM. )

And besides, it no less much sense than reviving the Anglo-Saxon word for witch ("wicca") and using it as the name for a religion, I guess.

Actually, it appears to have been 'magik'

Dictionary.com-
Middle English magik, from Old French magique, from Late Latin magica, from Latin magic

, from Greek magik

, from feminine of magikos

Merriam Webster-
Etymology: Middle English magique, from Middle French, from Latin magice, from Greek magikE, feminine of magikos Magian, magical, from magos magus, sorcerer, of Iranian origin; akin to Old Persian magus sorcerer


I suppose Im just splitting hairs here

 

[pensive]

Actually, it appears to have been 'magik'

I stand corrected.

I suppose Im just splitting hairs here

I suppose that's better than splitting hares!

 

[corvus_corax]

So now that the OP has been answered, any wagers on how long it takes this thread to degrade to arguments, ad homs, and "us vs them"?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

interesting thread... i personally use magick to differentiate with stage magic (so, #1)

where did you hear #2? was this by some christian propagandist trying to slate witchcraft etc? cuz a common argument i hear is that wicca is a rebellion against christianity in the guise of a nature religion.

 

[pensive]

where did you hear #2? was this by some christian propagandist trying to slate witchcraft etc? cuz a common argument i hear is that wicca is a rebellion against christianity in the guise of a nature religion.

I don't know where Antoninus Verus heard it specifically, but I have heard some Pagans make that kind of accusation too -- as well as claiming that only "fluff bunnies" spell it with a K. (Amusingly, this demonstrates a slow shift from the days when people would accuse you of not knowing what you were talking about if you didn't spell it with a K.)

 

[Wiccan_Child]

lol weird. ive seen both permeatations used in websites etc, but at the end of the day it doesnt matter. etymology is a strange topic. bleh.

 

[Rae]

This is a question for the Pagan/Wiccans here.

Why spell magic with a "k"?

I don't. I think it's cutesy and annoying.

 

[morningstar2651]

The first books I read on magic were by Crowley, and he spells it magick, and it got me into the habit of doing the same.

 

[morningstar2651]

It's said that the k on the end is to differentiate between stage magic (illusions) and magic.

But when magic is used in context, it's not that hard to tell what type of magic is being discussed.

Also, the English language has other homonyms that can be figured out in context.

There is also 1 English word that changes its pronounciation when capitalized.

It's time for my lunch break. Don't break the vase.

Shoe polish. Polish sausage.

Isn't English fun?

 

[Fuzzy]

minute, as in "I'll be there in a minute."

minute, as in "The chance of that is minute."

Or the present and past tenses of "read"

 

[Blackmarch]

Ok, this is something thats bugged me for a long time. This is a question for the Pagan/Wiccans here.

Why spell magic with a "k"?

Ive heard two schools of thought on this one

1. "Magic" is ordinary stage magic, like pulling a rabbit out of a hat or card tricks. "Magick" is the natural forces and the ability to control them (Or words to that effect)

2. "Magick" is an attempt to be rebelious and stand out more by some Wiccans/Pagans and theres nothing wrong with spelling it "Magic"

So....whaaaa?

It's an olde way of spelling it. also it could be the UK way or something like that. (For example; USA= Specter, UK= Spectre)

 

[ravenscape]

My understanding is that the spelling caught on for numerological reasons. Some consider it an affectation, some consider it proper. Some consider it a legitimate variant that needs neither explanation nor apology.

I consider it a variant. With or without a "k", however you like to spell it is o-K by me

 

[Rae]

Some consider it an affectation

It is, but I find it easier to stand than people who write Be-ing and Dis-ease throughout entire books. Not that I've read entire books about that because my mother-in-law gave me one or anything ...

I love her, I really do, but there are things that set me off, and making unnecessary changes in the English language like that almost guarantees I won't read what an author has written. I skipped several essays in a collection of feminist spirituality readings a friend gave me last week just because of this issue. I understand why it's done, but it's almost unbearably annoying to me.

 

[corvus_corax]

Some consider it an affectation...

My magickal recipes are in my olde Booke of Shadows.

 

[markie4u2001]

I read somewhere that magic was associated with sorcery or black magic of some kind so they changed it to magick, and I visited a pagan forum one time and they called women womyn, I guess they thought it was sexual discrimination to call them women..

 

[Cerridwen]

All magic is grey. The K is either for numerological purposes or to differentiate from stage magic, nothing more. It's simply a matter of one's own preferred spelling which is the 'right' way to use the word. The reason that women is changed to womyn is to identify us individually, without having 'men' in our name. Again, some prefer to use that spelling as it speaks of female empowerment. However, some of us females don't need to change a word's spelling to be empowered .

Love & Blessings, Cerridwen*