Belief, Knowledge, Understanding & Intent.
I'm on a new leg of my journey in my own understanding of magic. For years i collected information and resources with skepticism and hope.
Skepticism is not the same as disbelief in my understanding, it's a desire to find what you can believe and discernment in what you learn.
However, skepticism and discernment without a level of faith and trust will leave you in a rut if you're actively trying to grow your practice.
You do not need to vow to a dogma to give something a try.
You do not need to fully subscribe your loyalty to test out a method. You SHOULD be respectful and attentative of it, keep asking what-and-why, compare sources, and if you can talk to people who do follow certain methods, paths, and beliefs!
With that said, part of the discernment and courtesy as the wayward learner HAS to be understanding when something Is Not For You, be it because it's a closed practice with rigorous training or it just doesnt click with what you are trying to find. but that's not the same as shutting down your curiosity, avoiding the subject, and getting prickly when its brought up (i say as someone whos done that very thing).
Hell, thats the BEST time to ask why questions! Example: jewish mysticism is a closed practice with deep cultural traditions and education, so why is it used so heavily in british based 18th-20th century occultism thats influential to modern western mysticism? Why is it in tarot? I went down that rabbithole with an open yet critical mind and found SO MANY new things to learn!
I've gotten so frusterated in life when i've been told "its magic/its the way its always been/just because!" When i've asked "why" and it only drove me to ask more and more and more!
To know is not to understand, but is a gateway to it. You need to know what you are trying to do, your strengths and weaknesses, and know when to recheck them as well! You are ALWAYS growing as a person and a practitioner and as you learn more its not only okay but GOOD to change your opinions, beliefs and mindsets.
You can't just consume information, you need to digest it and find a way to create with it as well! Test things out! See what works! See what you do or do not understand!
There's been many points in my journey so far where i thought i had things figured out just to have them flipped on my head by a revalation, an interaction, or an important piece of information on the matter i was missing! I expect the same to happen through my whole journey in life.
Intent is Magic. Intent relies on your Beliefs.
Your intention is one of the biggest makes or breaks! Dont just ask others why, ask yourself why! Why am i studying and doing magic? What is my goal? What is my goal for THIS specific working? Is it clear? Is it muddled? Are there conflicting thoughts in my mind? Do you BELIEVE in what youre trying to do?
Set your intent! Be STRONG in it! Know what you are setting out to do!
Oxford dictionary describes Belief as an acceptance and confidence in a truth - an opinion you hold on the order or grounding on a topic. A feeling on if something exists and is correct. It can be a belief in a governmental system's function (maybe not the best example today. Does not need to be a belief IN order within it), a tenant or teaching of a religious faith, or in the security you have in a social support system and many more!
You can doubt your beliefs sometimes too, everybody waivers at times and is healthy to do so with a sense of discernment. The most important part for me is to KEEP having something to believe in, wanting to have belief.
I believe in myself, i believe in my friends, and i believe in the goodness of things! Thar doesnt mean i dont have my short comings, that i dont worry for my friends, or that bad things dont happen all the fucking time. Part of maintaining Belief is Hope and Resilience.
It all loops back on itself. You cannot have a functioning flow with out any of the items in the title.
Without Knowledge, there will be little to Understand.
Without Understanding, your Belief will be on rocky ground.
Without Belief, you will struggle to find Intent.
Without Intent, you won't know where to reach for Knowledge.