A few fundamental concepts underlie all magic: One, that thought empowered by emotion and will produces an outcome in the material world; two, that other realms of reality beyond Earth exist, populated by various entities and intelligences; and three, that magic blends your intention with the creative energy of a higher force. Regardless of which path appeals most to you — the formalized rituals of the Golden Dawn, the nature-based spirituality of Wicca, or the otherworldly journeying of shamanism — your magic will be safer and more effective if you follow some basic guidelines.