Editing Ceremonial magic (section)

===Magical formulae===
{{main|Magical formula}}
[[File:Abracadabra triangle (cropped).jpg|upright|thumb|Classic magic words]]
A [[magical formula]] or 'word of power' is a word that is believed to have specific [[supernatural]] effects.{{sfnp|Lecouteux|2015|p={{page needed|date=December 2021}}}} They are words whose meaning illustrates principles and degrees of understanding that are often difficult to relay using other forms of speech or writing. It is a concise means to communicate very abstract information through the medium of a word or phrase.

These words often have no intrinsic meaning in and of themselves. However, when deconstructed, each individual letter may refer to some universal concept found in the system in which the formula appears. Additionally, in grouping certain letters together one is able to display meaningful sequences that are considered to be of value to the spiritual system that utilizes them (e.g., spiritual hierarchies, historiographic data, psychological stages, etc.)

A formula's potency is understood and made usable by the magician only through prolonged meditation on its levels of meaning. Once these have been interiorized by the magician, they may then utilize the formula to maximum effect.