The Laws of Magick
The most complete description of these laws that has been made to date is by Isaac Bonewits, noted
magician, ArchDruid, and author of Real Magic, Authentic Thaumaturgy, and Witchcraft: A Concise
Guide. Isaac is also an Advisor to the Grey Council. The following Laws of Magick are adapted from the 2nd
Edition of Authentic Thaumaturgy, Isaac’s handbook on real magick for fantasy role-playing gamers.munication with entities from either inside or outside of oneself,
said entities seeming to be outside of oneself during the com-
munication process. “...Beings without.”- Law of Identification: It is possible through maximum asso-
ciation between the elements of oneself and those of another
being to actually become that being to the point of sharing its
knowledge and wielding its power. “You can become an-
other.” - Law of Infinite Data: The number of phenomena to be known
is infinite; we will never run out of things to learn! “There’s
always something new.” - Law of Finite Senses: Every sense mechanism of every
entity is limited by both range and type of data perceived. “Just
because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.” - Law of Personal Universes: Everyone lives in and quite
possibly creates a unique universe which can never be 100%
identical to that lived in by another; so-called “reality” is in fact
a matter of consensus opinions. “You live in your cosmos and
I’ll live in mine.” - Law of Infinite Universes: The total number of universes
into which all possible combinations of existing phenomena
could be organized is infinite. “All things are possible, though
some are more probable than others.” - Law of Pragmatism: If a pattern of belief or behavior enables
you to survive and to accomplish chosen goals, than that
belief or behavior is “true” or “real” or “sensible” on whatever
levels of reality are involved. “If it works, it’s true.” - Law of True Falsehoods: A concept or act may seem non-
sensical and yet still be “true,” provided that it “works” in a
specific context. “If it’s a paradox it’s probably true.” - Law of Polarity: Any pattern of data can be split into at least
two patterns with “opposing” characteristics, and each will
contain the essence of the other within itself. “Everything
contains its opposite.” - Law of Synthesis: The synthesis of two or more “opposing”
patterns of data will produce a new pattern that will be “truer”
than either of the first ones were; that is, it will be applicable to
more realities. “Synthesis reconciles.” - Law of Dynamic Balance: To survive and become powerful,
one must keep every aspect of one’s universe(s) in a state of
dynamic balance with every other one; extremism is danger-
ous on all levels of reality. “Dance to the music.” - Law of Perversity: Also known as “Murphy’s Law:” If any-
thing can go wrong, it will—and in the most annoying manner
possible. “If anything can go wrong, it will.” - Law of Unity: Every phenomenon in existence is linked
directly or indirectly to every other one, past, present or future;
perceived separations between phenomena are based on in-
complete sensing and/or thinking. “All is One.” - Law of Unintended Consequences: (from Terry Pratchett)
Whether or not what you do has the effect you want, it will
have at least three you never expected, and one of those
usually unpleasant. “There’s always something else.” - Law of Knowledge: Understanding brings control; the more
you know about a subject, the easier it is to control it. “Knowl-
edge is power.” - Law of Self-Knowledge: The most important magical knowl-
edge is about oneself; familiarity with one’s own strengths and
weaknesses is vital to a magician. “Know thyself.” - Law of Cause & Effect: If exactly the same actions are done
under exactly the same conditions, they will produce exactly
the same results; similar strings of events produce similar
outcomes. “Control every variable and you control every
change—lotsa luck!” - Law of Synchronicity: Two or more events happening at the
same time are likely to have more associations in common
than the merely temporal; events rarely happen in isolation
from nearby events. “There’s no such thing as a mere coinci-
dence.” - Law of Association: If any two or more patterns have ele-
ments in common, the patterns interact through those common
elements, and control of one pattern facilitates control over the
other(s); the greater the commonality, the greater the influence.
“Commonality controls.” - Law of Sympathy: Things that have an affinity with each other
influence and interact with each other over a distance. “Every-
thing is connected to everything else.” - Law of Similarity: Like produces like and an effect resembles
its cause; having an accurate image of something facilitates
control over it. “Look-alikes are alike.” - Law of Contagion: Objects or beings once in contact with
each other continue to interact after separation. “Magick is
contagious.” - Law of Positive Attraction: Like attracts like; to create a
particular reality you must put out energy of a similar sort. “That
which is sent, returns.” - Law of Negative Attraction: Like attracts unlike; energy and
actions often attract their complimentary “opposites.” “Oppo-
sites attract.” - Law of Names: Knowing the name, you know that which is
named; knowing the complete and true name of an object,
being or process gives one complete control over it. “What’s in
a name?—Everything!” - Law of Words of Power: Certain words are able to alter the
internal and external realities of those uttering them, and their
power may rest in the very sounds as much as in their
meanings. “A word to the wise is sufficient.” - Law of Personification: Any phenomenon may be consid-
ered to be alive and to have a personality, that is, to “be” an
entity or being, and may be effectively dealt with thusly. “Any-
thing can be a person.” - Law of Invocation: It is possible to establish internal commu-
nication with entities from either inside or outside of oneself,
said entities seeming to be inside of oneself during the commu-
nication process. “Beings within...” - Law of Evocation: It is possible to establish external com-
158 Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard
Corrected pages 3rd printing.2.p65 5 6/10/2004, 4:01 PM