Difference between prayer, meditation and magick

[loostudent]

Where do you see the difference?

Prayer
Addressed at: Creator. In broader sense it also aimed at Higher Self, inner plane or incarnate guides and helpers.
Purpose: being in the presence of God, closeness, thanksgiving, worship, pleading ...
Involves: relationship.

Meditation
Addressed at: object of thinking or nothing - stilness.
Purpose: exercising focus, awareness, centering within oneself.

Magick
Addressed at: it depends on the purpose - black/white magick.
Purpose: generating energy for your own working - positive or negative.
Involves: knowledge.

[Plenum]

I think at the heart of all these things, is the deepening of a relationship.

When induced correctly, the spirit is able to be more freely experienced by the conscious mind of that individual.

[Aion]

There is no difference except for the matter of technique. They can all be applied to the same end.

Instead I think they are different only in their sophistication. Prayer is straightforward, its power is in its simplicity. To this end however there is a heavy reliance on pure faith and the 'divine'.

On the opposite end we have meditation which is incredibly sophisticated simply due to the sheer flexibility of the concept and technique. The art of meditation is a true art in that it is highly fueled by creativity. This is different whereby prayer is a call to other creative powers whereas meditation is a call to your own.

Magic resides somewhere in the middle, ranging from very simple modes to very sophisticated modes. The place where meditation and prayer cross over is also the middle realm of magic. This on its most creative extreme ventures in to high ceremonial and/or chaotic magic, and in its simplest form is the most basic imitation magic and offerings.

However I'd say that every bit of prayer has some element of magic and meditation to it, every bit of meditation has some prayer and magic to it and magic always has some prayer and meditation to it. They are edges of one circle.

[Coordinate_Apotheosis]

Prayer
Worship/Conversation with Spirit

Contemplation
Conversation with self, analysis/observation of Spirit

Meditation
Overall state of betterment of relationship with Spirit, analysis/observation of self

Magick
A clusterfuck of potential vastly misunderstood and misapplied by most who practice it.  A means of action in Spirit and in the name of Spirit powered by Spirit to effect Spirit, aka Spiritual Power.

Like its literally in the name, Spi-Ritual, like Spi-rit-ual or Spirit Ritual.

[anagogy]

Where do you see the difference?

Prayer
Essentially I see this as the process of supplicating another being, entity, or intelligence for assistance or information.

Meditation
I would say this is the process whereby one attempts to 'listen to the sacred silence' to become more aware of the truth of things beyond distortions.

Magick
I would describe magick as the process of utilizing the will to generate deliberate changes in reality/experience. One might define visualization as a kind of meditation but for me it falls under the rubrik of magickal work.

[apalomba]

Prayer
An expression of gratitude that is meant to bring your mind in to alignment with spirit

Meditation
To experience oneness of being in the absence of ego/mind

Magick
An expression of will that is meant to control or change reality

[Stranger]

Those of you who use magick as described by Ra, what do you use it for?

[AnthroHeart]

I use it to help raise the vibration of the planet/collective, and other reasons why I'm studying a particular subject.