You light a candle for your ritual. The flame flickers to life, casting dancing shadows on the wall. The scent of melting wax fills the air as warmth radiates outward. But what exactly have you just invited into your space? Is it simply combusting wax and oxygen, creating measurable heat and light, or something more profound—a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms?
In magical practice, energy is one of our most fundamental tools. It flows through everything we do, whether we’re casting a spell, invoking a deity, or simply sitting in meditation. Yet for something so central to our work, energy remains surprisingly difficult to define or understand. How do we bridge the divide between the physical energy that science can measure and the spiritual energy we sense in ritual? What does it actually mean to work with this energy?
This article explores the multifaceted nature of energy in magic, examining both physical and spiritual perspectives and offering practical guidance for developing your relationship with these forces.
The challenge of perception
For years, I thought I couldn’t feel energy. I could visualise it according to instructions from books or ritual leaders—picturing the circle as made of white or blue flame, for instance. But when someone excitedly handed me a crystal, urging me to “feel its energy,” I struggled. I couldn’t sense what they described. It didn’t help that many people couldn’t articulate what energy felt like. Some would say an object “hummed,” but a hum is a sound, not a feeling, and that description only left me more confused.
Looking back, I realise I was trying to make either too much or too little distinction between mundane energy and magical energy. The truth is, they’re interconnected. The energy we feel in a crowded room, walking through a forest, or during a ritual isn’t fundamentally different; it’s our awareness and interpretation that changes.
If you’re struggling to perceive energy, know this: you probably already do. Start by trusting yourself. Energy might not feel like a vibration or buzz; it might manifest as a subtle shift in mood, a sense of heaviness or lightness, or a change in the atmosphere around you. Some people are naturally empathic and feel energy through emotions, others are visual and see auras or light, while others work through dreams, synchronicities, or sudden intuitive knowing. Neurodivergent practitioners often have particularly unique and valid ways of perceiving these forces that don’t fit conventional descriptions.
The more you observe these sensations without judgment—and without comparing your experience to others’—the more you’ll begin to notice. There’s no single “correct” way to sense energy, and developing this awareness often takes weeks or months of patient practice. If you feel nothing at first, that’s completely normal and doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you or your practice.
Physical versus spiritual energy
In our scientific age, we typically understand energy in measurable terms—light, heat, electricity, kinetic force. The candle’s flame produces quantifiable photons and thermal energy that instruments can detect and measure. This physical energy follows predictable laws and behaves consistently across different conditions.
Spiritual energy operates differently. It’s subjective, intuitive, and experienced uniquely by each practitioner. Where we can measure physical energy, we can best understand spiritual energy through direct experience—through our lived encounter with it, free from preconceptions about what it “should” feel like.
This isn’t a matter of opposition but complementarity. Both types of energy can coexist at the same time. The candle’s measurable heat and light create a physical atmosphere that supports our psychological and spiritual work, while our intention and awareness transform the simple flame into something sacred.
Understanding energy through four models
When we consider how energy functions in magic, we encounter different models of understanding. Each offers a distinct way of interpreting and working with energy, and many practitioners find value in drawing from multiple models depending on the situation.
Some of these models, particularly the spirit and energy approaches, are simplified frameworks drawn from much richer spiritual and cultural traditions. If these resonate with you, consider exploring their deeper context and learning from qualified teachers within those traditions. For guidance on approaching different spiritual traditions respectfully, you might find my article on decolonising spirituality helpful.
The spirit model
Rooted in animist and shamanic traditions, the spirit model views energy as emanating from conscious beings—spirits, deities, or elemental forces with their own personalities and purposes. Magic becomes an interaction with these living entities.
For example, when lighting a candle, we might see the flame as a fire-being, a conscious spirit we can commune with rather than simply harness. Lighting the candle becomes an invitation, a way of calling this fire-spirit into our space. We offer respect, perhaps with words of greeting or small offerings, and the spirit responds by sharing its energy and wisdom.
Practical application: Before lighting a candle, take a moment to acknowledge the fire-spirit. You might say something like, “Fire-friend, I invite you into this space. Please join me in this work.” Notice how this changes your relationship with the flame throughout your ritual.
The energy model
This approach focuses on universal, impersonal energy that flows through all things and that you can direct through intention and technique. Traditions like Reiki, qigong, and various forms of energy healing work within this model, teaching practitioners to sense and channel energy for healing, protection, or manifestation.
Here, the candle’s flame represents dynamic energy that we can direct to fuel our magical work. We might visualise drawing energy from the flame to charge a talisman or sending our intention into the flame to be transformed and released into the universe.
Practical application: Try positioning yourself comfortably near a candle flame (at whatever distance feels safe for you) and sensing the energy radiating outward. Practice visualising this energy flowing toward you in whatever way feels natural. Some people sense warmth, others see light or colour, others feel a shift in the space around them. Experiment with directing this energy toward specific intentions or goals using whatever method feels right for your body and abilities.
The psychological model
The psychological model of energy approaches magic through the lens of consciousness and mental states. Rituals, symbols, and magical tools are understood as methods for creating psychological shifts that enable change. The energy here is fundamentally mental and emotional.
In this framework, the candle serves as a focus for concentration, helping to connect the mind with desired outcomes. The flame’s energy is internalised; we channel our emotional and mental focus into the fire, seeing it as a physical manifestation of our will and intention.
Practical application: Use the candle flame as a meditation focus. Gaze softly at the flame while holding a specific intention in your mind. Notice how the act of focused attention affects your mental state and sense of connection to your goal.
The information model
This information model sees magic as working with the fundamental patterns and connections that underlie reality. Magic becomes a form of “programming” or working with the information networks that connect all things.
Using this approach, you might view the candle as a symbolic interface; the light and warmth it produces serve as signals within a vast network of meaning and connection. The flame becomes a way of accessing and influencing deeper patterns of causation and relationship.
Practical application: Consider the candle flame as a node in a network of connections. As you light it, visualise the ways this single flame connects to all fire everywhere—other candles, the sun, hearth fires throughout history. Use this sense of connection to amplify your magical work.
The psychology of energy perception
Our experience of energy isn’t purely metaphysical; it’s deeply rooted in how our brains and nervous systems process information. Understanding this can enhance rather than diminish our magical work.
Consider walking into a room where an argument just occurred. Even without witnessing the conflict, you might sense tension in the air. Similarly, the energy of a joyful celebration or the charged atmosphere before a storm is a palpable experience that most people recognise.
This phenomenon involves several factors:
Emotional contagion: Humans naturally pick up on others’ emotional states through subtle cues like body language, vocal tones, and facial expressions. We’re wired to sense and mirror the feelings around us.
Environmental influence: Spaces carry the emotional imprint of events and people. A peaceful forest feels different from a busy hospital, and both feel different from a sacred ritual space. These “vibes” are created and reinforced by countless interactions over time.
Nervous system responses: Our autonomic nervous system constantly monitors our environment, triggering stress or relaxation responses based on subtle environmental cues. A tense space might activate our sympathetic nervous system, making us feel alert or uncomfortable, while a serene setting might engage our parasympathetic system, promoting calm and openness.
In magical practice, understanding these mechanisms helps us create more effective ritual spaces and work more consciously with energy. The candle’s warm light doesn’t just illuminate; it triggers psychological associations with safety, home, and sacred space that support our magical work.
Practical energy work
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced practitioner, here are some ways to develop your relationship with energy:
Start with the obvious: Begin by noticing the energy you already recognise—the difference between a crowded shop and an empty forest, the feeling in your home when you’re stressed versus when you’re relaxed. These familiar sensations are your foundation.
Use your whole being: Energy perception isn’t limited to your hands or any specific sense. Notice with whatever senses are available to you—how your breathing changes in different spaces, how your posture shifts, whether you feel expansive or contracted. Your entire being is an energy sensor, and everyone perceives differently.
Practice with nature: Natural environments often provide clearer energy experiences. Spend time with a tree, near running water, or in sunlight in whatever way feels comfortable for you. Notice not just what you see or hear, but how these places feel. If mobility is limited, even connecting with houseplants or listening to nature sounds can provide meaningful energy experiences.
Work with correspondences: Different tools and materials carry different energy signatures. Fresh herbs feel different from dried ones, silver jewellery carries a different energy than copper, morning light feels different from candlelight. Experiment and trust your impressions, however they come to you.
Keep a practice journal: Record your energy experiences without judgment. Note what you were doing, how you felt before and after, and any impressions that arose. Over time, you’ll notice patterns in how you perceive and work with different types of energy. Don’t worry if entries seem inconsistent at first; this skill develops gradually.
Be patient with the process: Developing energy sensitivity typically takes weeks or months of regular practice. Some days you’ll feel more sensitive than others, and that’s completely normal. If you’re not noticing much initially, try working with stronger energy sources—thunderstorms, ocean waves, or fires tend to be easier for beginners to sense than subtle crystal energies.
Safety and discernment
As you develop sensitivity to energy, it’s important to maintain healthy boundaries and trust your instincts. If something feels uncomfortable or draining, step away. Learn techniques for grounding and shielding yourself, especially when working in groups or unfamiliar spaces.
Remember that not all energy work is beneficial, and you do not need to engage with every energy you encounter. Develop discernment about which energies serve your highest good and which are better left alone.
A note on health and well-being: Energy work complements but doesn’t replace professional medical or mental health care. If you’re experiencing mental health crises, severe depression, dissociation, or any medical condition, prioritise getting appropriate professional support. If energy practices consistently leave you feeling depleted, anxious, or ungrounded, step back and reassess your approach. Effective energy work should generally leave you feeling more balanced and connected, not less.
Cultural respect and acknowledgment
Some of the concepts discussed above have roots in specific cultural and spiritual traditions. Practices like qigong come from Chinese medicine and philosophy, while Reiki originates from Japanese spiritual practice. Shamanic approaches to spirit work are found in cultures worldwide, each with its protocols and understandings.
In Australia, we have the privilege of living on land with tens of thousands of years of Indigenous spiritual tradition. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures have profound understandings of the connection between land, energy, and spirit. While we cannot and should not appropriate these sacred traditions, we can approach our own energy work with respect for the deep spiritual heritage of this continent.
Bringing it all together
The beauty of energy work in magic lies not in choosing one “correct” model, but in recognising that different approaches offer different insights and possibilities. The same candle flame might be a fire-spirit to invoke on Monday, a source of healing energy to channel on Wednesday, and a focus for psychological transformation on Friday, and all of these approaches can be equally valid and effective.
And we needn’t limit ourselves to using these models separately. Many experienced practitioners find that the most potent work happens when multiple models operate simultaneously. A single candle flame can be all of these things at once: a conscious fire-spirit we commune with, a source of universal energy we direct, a psychological focus that shifts our mental state, and a symbolic interface connecting us to vast networks of meaning. Rather than contradicting each other, these perspectives layer and interact, creating a richer, more complete understanding of what we’re working with.
This multifaceted approach reflects the complex nature of reality itself—simultaneously physical and spiritual, individual and universal, symbolic and literal. When we allow ourselves to hold multiple models lightly, without insisting on rigid categories, our magical practice becomes more fluid, intuitive, and effective.
What matters most is developing your authentic relationship with energy through practice, observation, and trust in your own experience. Whether you sense energy as warmth, tingling, emotional shifts, or something entirely different, your perception is valid and valuable.
In the end, energy work is about relationship with ourselves, with the tools and elements we work with, and with the vast, interconnected web of existence that surrounds and includes us all. Trust your experience, remain curious, and let your practice evolve naturally. The energy is already there, waiting for you to notice it.