The Laws of Magic

Over the centries a collection of basic magical and mystical axioms has surfaced in culture after culture throughout the world, even in cultures that were totally isolated. These we can, and will, call the Laws of Magic. ... Not all these laws are consciously known or understood by those using them, and not all will automatically appear in every single culture with a tradition of magic.

• The Law of Knowledge
  The most basic of laws. Understanding brings control. If you know all there is to know about something then you have complete and total control over it.
  The key phrase is: knowledge is power.

• The Law of Self-Knowledge
  The most important kind of knowledge is knowledge of oneself.
  Th key phrase is: Know thyself.

All the other laws depend upon these two; it is wise to keep that in mind at all times. I don't think these need any more explanation or defence,...,we can go on to others.

• The Law of Names
  Knowing the complete and total true name of a phenomenon or entity gives you control over it. Examples include Ursula Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea, traditional demonology etc.
  The key phrase is: What's in a name? - everything!.

• The Law of Words of Power
  There are certain words that are able to change and influence the inner and outer reality of those saying them. The power is said to lie in the sounds that compose the words. Related to mantras, magic spells (in the typical say those words sense etc.).
  The key phrase is: A word to the wise is sufficient.

• The Law of Association
  If two things have something in common then that common thing can be used to control both. Also, the two things have a mutual influence on each other, the degree of influence depending upon the "size" of the thing shared (commonality). Examples are hunters eating the liver heart of their prey to take their strength; the bread and wine of Christian services as blood and flesh of christ. Not used very often in its "pure" form. Has two sub-laws which are heavily used; often by so called "primitive" cultures.
  • The Law of Similarity
    The basis of "sympathetic magic"; effects resemble causes. Birds feathers stuck to your broom might make it fly etc.
    Th key phrase is Look-a-likes are alike!

  • The Law of Contagion
    Things once in contact continue to interact after separation. Emphasis is on objects or people that have been in physical contact. An example of the combination of the above two laws would be a voodoo curse of someone. Make a doll to resemble them (Law of Similarity), stick bits of hair, toe nail clippings etc. from the victim to it (Law of Contagion) then away you go. Association can be used in reverse to render an enemy powerless (a Black Mass, for example, uses Christian prayer in reverse, inverted crosses, and so on in order to render powerless the Christian ritual). Bonewits states that the Laws of Association are the most commonly used.
    The key phrase for Law of Contagion is: Power is contagious.

• The Law of Identification
  By maximum association between your created pattern and that of an entity being imitated you can actually become that entity and wield its power. Bonewits states that the problem with this is that you can become lost in the personality being assumed. When it is only a temporary identification this is termed possession.

• The Law of Synthesis
  The Law of Union of Opposites. The combination of two opposites (the Thesis and the Antithesis) leads to a third thing (the Synthesis) that is more powerful and purer than either of the two originals. The new idea or object is not a compromise but rather is something brand new.
  Key phrase is: Synthesis reconciles.

• The Law of Polarity
  Anything can be split into two opposite parts; and these two opposites contain the essence (potentiality) of the other. Bonewits makes statements such as "the blackness of white", "the whiteness of black", "as above so below" etc. Other parallels are the microcosm through the macrocosm, macrocosm through the microcosm and so on.
  The key phrase is: Everything contains its opposite.

• The Law of Balance
  To survive and become powerful you must keep all aspects of your world/self balanced. Ideally this should be a dynamic balance. Extremes (of any kind) are bad.
  Key phrase is: Strike a balance.

• The Law of Infinite Data
  It is impossible to know everything. There is an infinite amount of knowledge/data.
  Key phrase is: There's always something new.

• The Law of Finite Senses
  Our senses are only capable of showing part of the total reality. There is/could be a lot more out there which we can never perceive. Goes hand-in-hand with the Law of Infinite Data.
  Key phrase is: We can't see everything.

• The Law of Infinite Universes
  There's an infinite number of ways to view the universe and therefore by the Law of Pragmatism an infinite number of universes must exist. Consider the Hindu and Buddhist perceptions of the universe. Everyone lives in their own universe (for example blind and deaf people live in different worlds). Bonewits states that The Incomplete Enchanter series is based on the premise of altering perceptions and hence realities.
  Key phrase is: Infinite universes exist.

• The Law of Pragmatism
  If it works then it is true. Combined with Law of Infinite Universe leads to the statement "truth can be defined as a function of belief". Thus seeing is believing.
  Key-phrase is: If it works - its true.

• The Law of True Falsehoods
  Contraditions, paradoxes and techniques that "shouldn't work", but somehow do, are true/real.
  Key phrase is: All paradoxes are true.

• The Law of Personification
  Any phenomenon can be considered to be alive and to have a personality (and thereby be an entity) and therefore (by Pragmatism) be considered real (and often quite useful). Elementals, spirits of various phenomenon, and so on are examples of this. It is the principle of Animist religions.
  Key phrase is: Anything can be a person.

• The Law of Invocation and Evocation
  You can summon (conjure) entities from the "inside" or "outside" of any "pattern" that you have set up. Hence we can summon entities which are personifications of anything we desire/design etc.
  Key phrase is: Beings within, beings without.