Magick or Magic? Magic or Magick?
How do you spell it anyway?

Aleister Crowley is also often credited with inventing the use of magick (with a k) as opposed to magic. The addition of the k increases the magickal potency of the word as k is the eleventh letter of the alphabet and eleven is a number considered to contain a lot of inherent magickal power within the western magickal system. Crowley himself also emphasised that he used the spelling of magick in order to differentiate the term from the variety of magic practiced by stage performers. It is however also interesting to note that the use of both 'magick' and 'magic' occurs in medieval and renaissance grimoires, as well as other documents of the time.

For example, in the book on the history of Magick published in 1657 we find: "From these four different wayes, we infer four kinds of Magick: Divine, relating to the first, Theurgick, to the second, Goetick, to the third, and Naturall, to the last..."

Likewise in a completely non-esoteric context, we find it used in a scientific document published in 1811: "To describe the construction of the Magick Lantern"

Throughout the 19th century both spellings continued to be used frequently, and as Aleister Crowley was a well read man he would certainly have been familiar with the alternative spelling. So one could say that Crowley did popularise the Magick spelling, but also that he revived the use of this manner of spelling for the word (which was still after all widely in use a few decades earlier), whichever way - he certainly did not invent it.

On a personal note, we use this spelling to differentiate and emphasise, like Crowley, the difference between stage conjuring and the work done within the western mystery traditions, which includes Wicca.

A Note:
Other modern spellings for "magick" include majik, majick, mayik, magjick, majiek and a variety of other weird and wonderful permutations which are being invented everyday in an effort to be more unique and more "out there" than the one before. Although this is all fine and well in the name of creative thinking, it also usually looks a bit like someone who is incapable of spelling or writing in the English language. How would you like it if someone randomly started spelling your first name in creative ways? Think about your use of language and make sure that if you use an alternative spelling that you explain your reasons for doing so, not with fake history, but with your own personal reasons - otherwise you will simply look a little bit like someone who doesn't know what they are talking about. If you are interested in the important parts of magick, that is the practise thereof, why not just use the standardised spellings of 'magick' or 'magic' (if you prefer) which will mean that most people will understand what you are talking about!!

 

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Note: This topic is considered in an appendix to Wicca Magickal Beginnings by Sorita d'Este and David Rankine, Avalonia Books, May 2008