Genuine magic or psychological conditioning?

Although I’m not technically a Pagan I do have rather diverse beliefs and I still absolutely believe in the power of casting spells, but for me personally it’s less about magic and more about the psychological effect they can have, especially if you’re casting them for yourself or the person you are casting them for is aware that you’re doing it for them.

For me, it comes down to the “power of positive thinking”. I know that’s over simplifying it, there’s a lot more to it than that, but at its core I personally think that’s the main power behind magic, prayer and ritual.

But that’s not to say I think magic or prayer have no worth; on the contrary, I think going through the motions of performing your ritual or working your spells, saying your prayers etc is vital in making your mind able to truly believe that what you’re asking for is possible. It makes you feel confident and empowered and, in some cases, certain that a higher power is on your side.
All this creates a positive attitude which goes a long way to inviting and accepting positive results into your life.

So what are your thoughts on this? Do you believe in a literal magical force or energy that works for you or is ritual/magic etc simply a tool that the mind needs in order to bypass the boundaries of what is possible and what isn’t?

Ooooo, you always come up with such mind-benders!
From my point of view i see it as a mixture of both. I believe there is a higher power/energy which aids things taking place yet not a pre-destiny style thing. Anyone can change their path. Not sure i'm explaining this properly, so please bare with me. Every action or decision we make changes our course/path however small or insignificant it may seem. Other people's actions also influence what happens to us as do the Universal Laws (of which there are many). Spell casting is just one method that an individual or group can use, much like any tool to bring about their desired outcome.

In my mind physically casting a spell with the relevant tools acts as an anchor or reinforcement of your Will. When you raise your power within you and visualise sending it to its destination you are performing an act of Will. However that is not where the spell ends, as a spell is more like an affirmation of intent. From then on you have to do everything in your physical power to help your spell reach its desired outcome.

For instance, say you want a job. You write the spell, you set your space and put together everything you think you will need that signifies job opportunities and career to you. Then you visualise your desired outcome, raise energy and send it to your desired outcome. Would you then sit down and wait for a job to fall into your lap? No, of course you wouldn't. If you did then your spell probably wouldn't work at all. You need to bring about the change in your environment, thinking, Will and overall life to bring about your outcome. Spellcraft is just one aspect.
A lot of spellwork is willing yourself, your environment, circumstances to change, physically changing to open yourself to your desired outcome more. However you can't influence someone else's Will like that. If you apply for jobs and go to interviews and your not what they are looking for. Your Will and desire to have the job will not swing it for you in its entirety. All you can do is try your best, believe in yourself and know that the universe is not out to get you.

And....i probably just totally lost everyone LOL
Hope someone can work out what i was waffling on about.

ok first thing i gotta say to this is frame of mind is DEFINATLEY to be considered. For example it isnt possible to cast a positive spell if your feeling extremely negative....well you can cast it, but it wont work.

Now in my most humble opinion, spell/prayer same thing, different wrapping....you are asking for the Gods/God whoever you 'pray' to, to aid you in getting something such as a new job.

This is where we get tricky, specifics are a MUST, as i am sure i have probably said before, you can ask for a new job and could get one with diabolical hours, insufficient pay and a boss you really wish you could kill and hide the body under the patio, after all we know some people are only still alive because its illegal to kill them ........you got the job as you asked but it isnt suitable.

Be specific about your needs/requirements set your boundaries, set your mind, mood and energy .....cast and relax.....watch that job opportunity arise

This requires psychological conditioning (to set mind, mood and energy) AND geniune magick to make it happen.

So, for you guys, it's a belief in a genuine magical energy that, when channeled, shall we say, through spellwork ritual etc, can help achieve what you want. But at the same time it helps condition your mind to be more positive and open to success, am i right?

Some good points made here ladies!

Just to stir the pot a bit -

Would you then sit down and wait for a job
to fall into your lap? No, of course you wouldn't. If you did then your
spell probably wouldn't work at all. You need to bring about the change
in your environment, thinking, Will and overall life to bring about
your outcome.

The cynic might say, how can you be sure your spell/prayer/magic whatever, had anything to do with it at all, isn't it more likely that you were successful because, as you say, YOU brought about the change in your thinking etc and went out and got it for yourself?
Why should you give the credit to god etc when really, you did all the work?

Of course, you could then counter-argue that you perhaps wouldn't have got the confidence and motivation to go out and get it for yourself if you hadn't gone through the act of performing your spell/saying your prayers etc...

Hmm... so your success could genuinely be a result of your spell. Directly or indirectly...
And really, it doesn't matter which one is true as long as it gets you what you want.

Sorry, i'm arguing things over in my head now!

Lmao i not crediting God, i cast the spell not him!

My point being God/s whoever you pray/cast to/ work with just aids in what you ask, helps bring it about (assuming you cast right and its whats right for you at the time)

Think of it this way, you want your boyfriend to buy you that nice pair of shoes/boots for your birthday....will he think of it? HELL no, its not in his boy brain he be thinking something practical like a new toaster....soooooo you gotta direct him, gently but firmly.