The Basics of Practice - Practical Use

I hope, by the time you view this page, that you have already read my introduction philosophy. Safe magic hinges on comprehending that document (and the Ripple link). So far, if you have read these at a pace of approximately one per day, then this will be the third day of reading (it takes about a day to fully understand and put into practice the content of each page, and maybe longer. I've heard of people going for up to eight months on the first page's questions!). The final step to beginning magic is the practical application of all that stuff you have so diligently worked at understanding.
Practical magic requires you to understand your:
• Caster type.
• Power level.
• Purpose.
So, the first thing to do, when applying all this wonderful information is to remember back to the first lesson when you were asked to determine your type. Obviously, if a caster was a Necromancer and wished to heal a friend, it would be to the detriment of someone else. A Necromancer has to draw on the powers of death, so in that case, a suitable donor (voluntary or not) would have to be found. A Healer, in contrast, would be able to syphon the energies of earth into the wounded friend, and in turn hurt nobody. A Conjurer would have to send a demon or angel into the person in question. There are many different options available, but each one has a different price to pay. The Necromancer may lose a bit of their own life force or have to harm someone else, and would have to kill a living person proportionately to the amount of healing they bestow; the Healer would run out of available magic for a while and would be mentally weary;
the Conjurer would not only have to later exorcise the possessing spirit from their friend but also would render the services of that spirit unavailable to themself for a time. Think of your objective and then think of the options available to you considering your caster type. Sometimes the cost isn't worth the benefit. That's why I personally recommend that whatever type of caster you are, that you make friends with a caster of opposite alignment and ability (i.e. a Demon Conjurer with a Priest, a Healer with a Necromancer, a Wizard with a Sorcerer, etc.).
Think of your objective again, and think of how much energy it will cost you to obtain that goal. For a Priest, a blessing is nothing. For a Demonomancer, a blessing is among the hardest things possible. Be shrewd in using your powers. Sometimes, what is difficult for one caster class is simple for another. Try to find the most expedient and wise way to obtain your goal. If it was to gain money, then obviously a Healer and a Black Mage would go about getting that money in a different way. The healer could offer their services of health, while a Black Mage could offer enchanted items or magical services of their type.
Lastly, one must evaluate purpose. This point is the most difficult to ascertain. If money is the purpose, perhaps that is too difficult to achieve. Instead, try aiming for a job as your purpose, and, as a result, obtain money. Purposes range in every way possible. Some are altruistic and some are greedy and self-serving. Either way, one must be very cautious when deciding what their purpose is. When you are ready to proceed, prepare yourself mentally. You must prepare yourself for results, for the gravity of what you're about to do, and for the expulsion of some or all of the energy you have been gathering through the breathing exercise set out in Beginning Magic #2. First, extend your hands towards the target, or if performing an area effect enchantment, point at the sky (alternatively, some people find just as much strength by simply concentrating on the task at hand without any body positions). Clear your mind of disruptive thoughts that will distract you from concentrating 100% on your magical task at hand. Now, you should think of your purpose. Think of it vigourously, vividly and precisely. Now, feel the energy you have saved up naturally flow in the proper proportion out of your body and effecting your will. Let's just say, for a solid example, that you're an Mage who wishes to implant a thought in someone's mind. Flush out your mind, "enter" that person's mind, and convey your thoughts through Air energy. If it didn't work the first time and the person just continues laughing/talking or whatver they're doing and it didn't seem to affect them, try again. There's no harm done by trying again. Some spells require a fair bit of raw energy to get started. Just keep trying. If, by some chance, it didn't work the first time or the hundredth time, keep trying it. It will eventually work, but you may need more energy to perform that spell than you have at the time. It is a frustrating process, but it does work with practice. Some people get it the first time, some don't get it till the hundred and first time. It just depends on how accurately you have carried out these steps and how much energy you have reserved to perform these acts of magic. Have faith, keep practicing, and rest secure in the fact that you now have all the information necessary to become an awesomely powerful magician. There are other ways available, but this works the best, hands down.