Magic

**Magic** is the art, science and practice of utilizing specific universal energies whose nature is beyond the scope of the technologically-oriented science of all known sentient races. Only specific individuals with mystical proclivity are able to tap into mystical energies by mental, verbal or physical means.

There is no specific blanket term for beings who can control magic as different cultures and beliefs use different means to tap into it. The most ancient group to do so were Witches, although this term has developed certain sinister connotations due to the Early Christian Church. Others to do so were Wizards from Western Europe and Sorcerers from the Middle East. Magic-users are also known as mystics, magi and shamans. Although some magic-users refer to themselves as "magicians," the term has been typically relegated to sleight-of-hand illusionists and escape artists. Contrary to belief, all human beings have some potential to practice magic but are limited on their potential, discipline, knowledge and understanding of the mystical arts.

It is known that several witches and wizards use spells to lengthen their life spans for hundreds of years and even seek potential spouses that also practice witchcraft to sire children with a potential for the mystical arts. Because of their long life spans, most witches look down on regular humanity, calling them "mortals," but this is more a derogatory term than a factual one since witches aren't true immortals, like the Olympian Gods. Although witches seem to be long-lived, they do age and are not immune to death.

Although witches are native to Earth, most witches and magic-users preside in secret communities and villages linked to each other in order to escape persecution or revealing their existence on Earth. Collectively, these societies have been referred to as "The Other-Realm" or "The Magic World" which seem to also include non-human species such as elves and fairies, possibly to elude detection from the general populace. Some witches have solely presided in these societies and have become ignorant of traditional mortal traits and customs. However, most witches still frequent or preside in regular society, living as regular human beings and siring children with mortals, resulting in children with both characteristics of their parents.

Although most witches inherit their mystic potential through their parents, there are instances where regular human beings have acquired temporary mystical powers through spells or by happenstances with other witches while others have performed minor skills by invoking mystical energies, usually through divination, such as performing a séance.

In the mystical community, practicing witches and wizards usually send their progeny to secret and remote locations to learn how to develop or gain control over their mystical skills. Many of these location are in structures that look abandoned or derelict.

Magic allows witches to override or alter the normal rules of the universe, most often allowing them to make objects appear out of thin air, turn one object or being into another and make objects vanish. These magical commands are often referred to as simple spells or conjurations. In addition, magic also allow witches to influence the course of natural and human events.

Magic is derived from three basic sources: powers gained by tapping the powers of the mind, body and soul (such as telepathy and psychokinesis), powers gained by invoking gods or beings in other dimensions through lengthy spells and incantations (such as transfiguration spells) and powers gained by invoking the ambient forces in the universe (such as for teleportation and time travel). Different forms of magic are seen observed, often categorized by the result which the given spell result. There are several magical results which are used often by most of the witches seen. In cases of these types of magic, there is almost always some physical manifestation of the witch's magic, although other mystical commands do not always manifest a physical form of magic.

* Transfiguration or turning something into something else is seen very often and conjuring and vanishing objects and beings out of and into thin air is likely the most used magical command.
* Many witches teleport themselves from one location to another by casting a spell linking two separate areas in space. This spell is known between witches as "Molecular Transference."
* Hexes and jinxes are small bursts of psychokinetic magic that can cause positive ("good luck") or negative ("bad luck") results depending on the witch that casts them. Sabrina and her aunts have cast small jinxes and hexes to cause unfortunate things to happen to others. These are never severe and their target almost always deserves to be on the receiving end.
* Some forms of magic require complex spells involving complex incantations and multiple witches to summon the energy required for such effects.
* Some forms of minor magic require the use of potions utilizing the natural attributes and anathema of certain mixtures, such as those in herbs and plants.

## Manifestations

* An individual witch's magic appears to physically manifest differently than the magic of others. For example, Sabrina's magic appears as a stream of golden sparks when she transfigures or conjures an object. Similarly, Zelda's magic appears as a stream of violet sparks. Hilda's magic however appears as puffs of white smoke. Many other manifestations of magic have been seen from other witches and they seem to appear in an infinite array of colors and forms.
* It has also been seen that witches can change the way their magic manifests if they choose. For example, Amanda Wiccan's magic usually appears as multi-colored sparkles, but she later changed it to appear as explosions of white smoke.
* Some magic appears to change slightly as a witch gets older. Sabrina's magic starts as a stream of light yellow-gold sparkles. However, as she gets older, her magic seems to get darker; becoming a deeper, rusty orange-gold. Amanda's magic starts as a stream of sparkles (identical in form to Sabrina and Zelda's), however when she gets older, Amanda's magic is accompanied by a ball of orange light that leads the sparkle stream.
* Some specific spells may manifest magic in a specific way without influence of the witch casting it.
* In addition to the form and color of a witch's magic, often witches cast their magic in different ways. The most commonly seen in the series is simply pointing with the index finger, such as Sabrina and her family. However, certain witches have found other means to perform spells either by more covert or grandiose means. For example, Dreama often pulled on her earlobe to use her magic, and Dashiell once rubbed his head. Theoretically, the ability to control mystical energies might be linked to the personality of its users.

## Limitations of Magic

Although a witch's magic is seemingly vast, allowing them to perform a variety of impressive magical commands, there are still limitations to an individual witch's abilities which have been developed and established as their society has developed. For example:

* Love spells are forbidden because it involves tampering with human will, which is something witches are permitted to interfere.
* Witches individually are unable to turn back time. However, it is known a group of witches centering their energies in a single spell can conjure enough power to do so, but permission to do so witches are able to do must be done through a request that must be taken directly to the Witches Council.
* Life's lessons should not be tampered with using magic as they are linked to one's destiny, and witch's are not allowed to tamper with fate. These are instances which must play out accordingly. Embarrassment is one such lesson while fear is another emotion which that cannot not be tampered.
* Witches are also warned against using their magic for charitable purposes. As it is difficult to understand what truly leads to one's contentment, charitable magic is discouraged as it can lead to unforeseen and potentially harmful consequences.
* Money and currency is cannot be conjured permanently. Any money that is conjured simply dissolves within a few hours. However, there are no regulations against merely transporting required cash already in one's possession.
* Witches have to honor copyright law and aren't allowed to conjure brand name merchandise. Reportedly, this occurred after witches in the 70s wore only Gucci clothes, and the ability to do so was increasingly abused. Restrictions on this spell allow witches to only create low-grade imitations or "knock-offs." Apparently, even witches have to work for their money if they want brand name things.
* Witches reportedly can restore life to small animals that have died. However, the full extent of this power is unknown, but it seems to be connected to some sort of healing spell. Sabrina is once seen bringing a frog back to life in her biology class which was a small animal and had a simple life. However, restoring people back to life may be beyond even the boundaries of their powers as human beings have sous and are sentient beings. It is known that Sabrina's aunts give her a reanimation voucher as a gift, which allows her to speak with the spirit of any deceased person she wishes for a short period. She eventually wished to speak with her mortal grandmother, who took on the form she had when she was alive. This seems to be a very rare and special ability than can only be performed on Halloween since the boundaries of the dead and the living are closest at that time.
* Witchcraft also seems to be affected or limited by atmospheric and even astrological phenomena. Over time, Sabrina's magic has been briefly knocked-out by high altitude even when her rival was still able to use magic. (It is possible that this rule only effects relatively inexperienced witches like Sabrina.) In another occasion, Zelda reveals that the alignment of certain planets will cause the family to lose their powers. One of the biggest astrological events for magic users occurs when Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune are all aligned in the ninth parallel of the seventh quadrant, an event which happens once every millennium. During this event, the ability to perform magic is negated until the event is over. It is unknown if these forces act upon all witches in both realms or just those living in the mortal realm.
* It has been revealed that certain entities whose existence is dependent of forms of magic, such as vampires, are immune to witchcraft.

## Trivia

* This page is based on an original draft from the Sabrina The Teenage Witch website.
* Magic Removal is an ability to convert their mystical powers into a physical form resembling glitter in order to remove it and store it in any object. Both Sabrina and her aunts have willingly removed their own abilities. In these cases, their mystical powers and abilities are transformed into a physical form which is possibly still linked to them, and yet, can be used my non-magic users to create spells resembling magic.