So I used to notice that almost every reference in witchcraft spelled "Magic" with a "k" at the end to differentiate it from illusion artistry. Now I rarely see it anymore. Am I missing something? How do you spell magic/magick? Do you think it matters at all?

I had always heard that the k added to magick was to differentiate it from stage magic, prestidigitation, etc. To seperate the phony from the real, the illusory from the spiritual.   Although I have met my share of Pagano-Charlatans that make the chintzy-est stage mage look like Taliesin Himself...

I've heard about this distinction. IN French, there is no difference. It's said "magie" in any case. However, some french pagans say "magick", but only in some "initiate" circles, referring to the english word

It's largely regarded (though as always there are descenting voices) that we have Alistair Crowley to thank for the addition of the "k". It was his desire to denote magic with a k so as to differentiate it from the magic as illusion from stage magicians.

What people forget is that Gardner met Crowley at one stage and corresponded for a time afterwards. Crowley even sanctioned a charter for Gardner to establish an OTO lodge as an "Inner Order" to Wicca, which never really took off due to Crowley's fading health and eventual death. But it is entirely conceivable that Gardner also brought this spelling with him. Seemingly his rendering of the Gardnerian "Bok of Ye Arte Magic(k)al" (later to become the Book of Shadows circa Doreen Valiente and get a re-write) borrowed heavily from OTO papers and rituals of the time from what I've heard.

There are a few individuals that spell magic like, magik or majick or majik or something like that. Magik could be a corruption of magikos from the Greek. Personally magic does fine and I can always expand in later situations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(paranormal)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magick

Yea personally this was never really an issue... I'd heard the whole K, no k thing before. Just seems like stage magic was a big thing in crowly's day, and he was possably occasionally harrassed to do card tricks and was annoyed by it.
Now a days, stage magic isn't a big thing unless your chris angel (whom I think is a total douch, just my opinion) and he never calls it magic, and most illusionists have followed suit.

yeah but he's a FINE douche! lol

granted yes he is easy on the eyes... he's pretty therefore partially forgiviable.

Agreed!

The only Illusionists I appreciate are Penn and Teller. Seigfried and Roy are just too...um...flamboyant...for my taste. And yes, Chris Angel is a Douche...TO THE MAAAAAAAAAAAXXXX!

Chris Angel and his total hotness aside... (and I really can't stand anything having to do with him unless it is a still image)

Magick or Magic? Many authors of the LLewellen community prefer to use the K mainly to distinguish the "real" from the "stage." When I was a bit fresh out of the cauldron i used the K myself because I though that all witches did that. Then I started meeting real people and found that some did and some did not. So I made the decision to not use the K in general.

Sometimes I just feel it speaks to a "baby witch" mentality, the ones who take their new found paganism to an extreme. you know the ones... too many pentacles and too much Stevie Nicks clothing from Hot Topic, every other phrase is a "blessed be" or a "Goddess bless." It is a hard line to explain, but you know when it happens. Believe me, working at a pagan/witch store I can see it coming a mile away. They always HAVE to have some Mugwort or some Mandrake Root, but really have no idea what they might be using it for.

Once I realized that I could spell it the way that I wanted I dropped the K. Seriously - I don't think that anyone I am talking to is going to confuse what I do with stage magic in any way or form.

(and by the way - no offense made to those who dress like Stevie Nicks I hope...)

I don't even know who Stevie Nicks is... lol

ok so I googled it... lol. I see now.

it's a she Ab... 80's pop icon

My high school boyfriend-of-the-closet used to do a really bad Stevie Nicks impersonation when he got drunk. Ah, memories...

well at least someone out there knows who she is...

Fleetwood's Mac 'singer ? I've got a friend to whom she is a true icone, idol, goddess. But I didn't know her clothes inspired the witches. Has she something to do with witchcraft ? I perfectly imagine her as a Starhawk's follower.