The Creation of Magic

What affected my choice in how my characters use or cast magic?

Magic, or the underlying ground matter of it, stems from the elements – earth, air, fire, and water. A large assortment of  ancient and modern religions call forth, twist, mix or use in some fashion, the four elements previously mentioned; and then a choice of the fifth being spirit, metal, or stars, for example. In some cases only the four elements are used.

Some of these religions are ancient Greek, which heavily influenced European beliefs through the Renaissance period. Ancient Egypt also used the elements, as well as many other items or spirits, to conjure many forms of curses, spells, and enchantments. Ancient Tibetan rituals used the elements, as did the Chinese and Japanese. More modernly accepted religions that use the four elements are Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicca, Native American… well, as you can see the list is long, and it goes on.

I followed the Native American spiritual path for a time in my younger years, learning how the elements of nature are used to call forth and aid in actions needed, or wanted, while walking the good red road. Later, I looked for more ritualistic path for stronger magic, and turned to Pagan concepts, and read heavily into druidism and Celtic magic, as well as more ancient forms of stronger magic in ritualistic events.

So when it came time for me to decide just how my wizards would use or draw magic, it was not a very far to reach to choose to use the elements. Where there is substance, there are the elements of nature-Air, Earth, Fire, Water; and I chose Spirit as my fifth. To create affects such as fire, I look at the fire triangle. Fire requires air, fuel, and heat. It is therefore reasonable to believe that a wizard would need to combine those things in order to create a fireball – air, earth, and fire, twisted, woven, combined in some fashion-to create the desired affect of the fireball.[image error]

Are there other authors that use or have used similar ways such as I? Certainly, and perhaps they came to their methods in the same way I did; through study and practical use. Or perhaps, they simply drew it out of air.