Quantifiable Magic : An examination of the Mystical nature within Art.

Art means a great deal to me, just as it does to many others. But when I look at art, I don’t see it simply as a source of entertainment. I see it as an invitation to look at the world through a different lens. A more exciting lens. A fantastical one.

That’s why, whether you’re spiritual or not, I believe art is quantifiable magic. You might scoff at that statement.

"Quantifiable magic?"

What I mean is this, when we examine how art functions, its structure, its impact, and the way it moves people, it mirrors our perception of magic so closely that I would argue it is the only broadly accepted, accessible, and observable form of magic in the modern world.

The challenge with this philosophy is that magic, for most people, exists within a very limited context. It is almost always confined to three territories: religion, spirituality, and fiction. Outside of these domains, the concept of magic tends to dissolve under the weight of skepticism. It has no foothold in science or in any tangible aspect of daily life that isn’t filtered through belief or imagination.

So why should art be considered magic? How can it exist as such in a world that demands proof?

My goal here is not to convince anyone of magic as it’s traditionally understood. I’m not here to promote a specific belief system or suggest that being an artist means you're shooting light beams out of your hands, nor am i asking anyone to adopt a spiritual worldview.

What I want is to present a perspective that exists alongside art, one that allows us to see its function as more than just expression or entertainment. I want to reveal a lens through which art becomes something undeniably fantastical, yet completely grounded in reality. I want us to look at art and say, without irony or apology, that it’s magical and that Maybe thats really, really f*cking cool. If you decide to take it even further on a spiritual level then thats okay and you can do that as well.

When I use the term quantifiable magic, I’m not trying to break new ground on something that is already profound. I’m trying to highlight the parallels between art and spellcraft in order to give more weight to whats come before. Because if we break down the basic components of a spell, and compare them with the act of creating art, the similarities are undeniable.

Let’s start with the three core components of a spell.

First: Intention.

This is the mental force behind the spell. It gives direction, purpose, and shape to the act. Without intention, a spell is empty, it’s just motion without meaning.

Second: Medium.

This is the vehicle through which the intention is expressed. It might be herbs, candles, words, sigils, gestures, or tools. It’s the form the idea takes in the physical world.

Third: Energy.

This is the power source. It’s what fuels the intention and flows through the medium to manifest change. It can come from emotion, spirit, nature, will, or presence. It is what makes the spell real.

Now look at art through that same structure.

First: Intention.

Every piece of art begins with an idea, an emotion, or a message. This is what the artist wants to express or explore. It gives the work direction and meaning.

Second: Medium.

Whether it's painting, photography, sculpture, writing, or sound, the medium is how the idea is made visible, audible, or tactile. It is the chosen method of manifestation.

Third: Projection.

This is the emotional weight, focus, or drive the artist pours into the work. It's not just energy in a vague sense, but a real human input, the part of the artist that gets left behind in the piece. It’s what makes the work breathe.

When you look at the structure of a spell and the process of creating art, the resemblance is too strong to ignore. Both acts involve shaping intangible thought into tangible form. Both require intention, a vehicle, and a force behind them. Both aim to transform something, whether it’s the world, the viewer, or the self.

That’s why I see art as magical. Not because it defies reality, but because it deepens it. It changes the atmosphere of a space. It pulls emotion out of strangers. It connects us across language, culture, and time. It doesn't have to be supernatural or otherwordly, it just is. And that, in itself, is rare enough to define it as mystical.

And yeah there's very much the whole aspect of advanced science becoming indistinguishable from magic? Art lives in that same space. Except instead of waiting for future tech to impress us, we already have it. In our hands. In our eyes. In the human instinct to make meaning out of nothing.

Thats magic. And it’s measurable. Because we feel it. And because we make it with our hands.

Art can be spiritual, a transcendent event or nothing at all, and i think no matter the way you perceive it, art is magical to one degree or another regardless of our beliefs and this to me is how i define "Quantifiable Magic"

I just love viewing Art as this grand and profound thing while allowing it to feel fantastical. I just think its worth looking at through this lens if you're open to it.