Spring is the time of renewal; for some of us, it may be the excuse to go through the drawers and toss underwear with ratty elastics or the like. While rummaging around, you might wish to take a further step, of sorting out your image; how you present yourself to the world, even if it’s just the world contained by the bathroom mirror. The battles during the last few years have certainly frayed many of us.
Two days are coming up, which have magical connotations and which have been discussed in the past in this column. Imbolc/Candlemas at the beginning of February, and then we have the Spring Equinox around March 21. These are esteemed in many pagan circles as celebrations of the return of the light, both as a physical phenomenon, as well as spiritually, marking the cycle of movement into a more conducive time for life.
Considering the above information, you might not be surprised that yours truly is suggesting to you that this could go hand-in-hand with refurbishing your image. While you might be wondering why this is the subject that’s even been touched upon right now, I am here to assure you that appearance is an armor to battle forces that might prefer us all to vanish.
Equally as important, the mechanics of magical workings are supported by the individual’s confidence, their ability to transform reality, or as Aleister Crowley defined magic, “The Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will.”
Do the paraphernalia and the trappings make one a more effective magic practitioner? Some might think it’s frivolous to look well. Style does count for something; you can divide up the visual presentations of various branches of magical practitioners into looks. There’s a tinge of ecclesiastical reference, we have our Vikings, and there’s a kitchen witch, or the working-class hero, as a few examples that I offer, and support; I am not being disparaging here. While you may feel more comfortable when working at home alone in your post-pandemic loungewear, you know it’s cutting productivity.
A long time ago, before there was an online world, before YouTube and all, film often influenced the direction of fashion, even though it may sometimes be aspirational. I offer up to you as a template to consider, the Columbia Pictures movie made of John Van Druten’s 1950 play Bell, Book and Candle, starring the inimitable Kim Novak.
Since we now presently live in a world where mid-century modern has become a touchstone of design, I do suggest you take inspiration from a viewing. Who wouldn’t want to be Gillian Holroyd living in Greenwich Village, running an art gallery filled with outré artifacts, surrounded by a circle of a magical practitioner’s friends? Let the photograph illustrating this column be the light that inspires you this season.
