Two Classes of Energy in the Magical Paradigm

Energy is Energy

Before we get into the mystical energy vs. mundane energy, let’s be clear about one thing: Everything you learned in fifth grade science class still holds true, even when discussing aspects of a paradigm most people call crazy woo.

Whether tangible and textbook approved or unknowable and scorned by academics, all energy can be defined and described as:

• Work or the ability to perform work; the entity the can or does perform work or that is performing work.
• A frequency, or wavelengths cycling (vibrating?) at a particular rate of speed. Gross energy is precisely measurable while subtle energy can only be assessed at a relative frequency or rate.
• Existing in two forms, kinetic or in motion and potential, or stored.
• Readily converted into or interchanged with matter.

Magical/Mystical vs. Mundane

Mystics and magicians discuss and work with energy that is not verified or accepted by academia nor by materialists in general. Detractors of what we do say mystical energy cannot be verified because it doesn’t exist.

That is one possibility, but it’s either unlikely or irrelevant. If vital energy, or life force isn’t a real energy, for example, this only means the apparent energy we can sense, direct, transfer, and create observable effects with is actually some other phenomenon or process that we misappropriate as some type of energy.

Should this be the case, I hope we figure it out and get the name and description of the thing right. Until then, since reality behaves as if life force or vital energy is a thing, we can simply continue referring to it as such and interact with it under the present assumption that it indeed exists.

Gross Energy vs. Subtle Energy

On this blog and other places where the smart people discuss metaphysics there are two classes of energy. These are subtle energy and gross energy.

Gross energy is the term, in the context of a mystical or magical paradigm, for standard energy that is acknowledged by physical science, can be measured using a variety of physical devices and methods, and may even be experienced through the five senses. Electrical, heat, nuclear, and mechanical energies are examples of the gross class.

Subtle energy is a reference to frequencies that are unacknowledged by materialist science and industry, cannot normally be measured using physical equipment, and are typically not available to the five senses of the uninitiated masses. Etheric, vital, Venusian, are examples of subtle class frequencies.

If We Can’t Measure it Why am I Saying it’s Real???

Fair question. Here’s the lowdown on all that and more concerning subtle energy.

First of all, the subtle energy heading captures all frequencies and working entities under the magical and mystical umbrella, from the energies our chakras process and emanate, to the substance of our auras and the “non-physical materials” that comprise the higher realms or spiritual planes. These energies are believed or suggested to be of a much higher frequency, or finer grade, than gross energy and matter, hence our five material senses cannot capture them, nor even can equipment designed to reach beyond the visible, audible, and other ranges.

We can say subtle energies are real not just because of the vivid personal experiences we have with them, but because of the observable impact subtle interactions have on objective reality. Perhaps we cannot guarantee the objective result of (we believe) interaction with subtle energy is indeed caused by the proposed energy, this idea will forever be decidedly unscientific.

That’s not going to stop me from casting a spell or working a ritual to heal my cat, attain $1,000 in new money, or cause some asshole to stop bothering me. Furthermore, when the cat feels better or its boo-boo goes away, after I get the $1,000 from some unexpected source, and once the aforementioned asshole forgets about me or falls off a bridge, I promise not to feel bad about the fact that I’ll never see a peer-reviewed paper in Nature discussing the forces involved.

More Specifics About Subtle Energy

Subtle currents can be detected by psychic senses and also using enchanted or attuned devices like dowsing pendulums, Tarot cards, and crystal balls.

While some subtle energies are named and even have subheadings, like life force > vital energy > chi > prana > ki etc. much of this phenomenon (or noumena?) is unlabeled. We don’t necessarily have a name for every frequency or energy we conjure or encounter during magical work.

Sense we aren’t able to take precise measurements, this whole aspect of the Art is approached in relative context and in qualitative terms. For example, the four elements are four qualities of energy that can be applied to subtle energy (and gross energy too actually!) in any form to help us understand and act within a situation.