Affect is a word that means to move, change or cause effects. But it also means to touch someone emotionally or move them in a feeling way. In psychology, to say a person is lacking in affect means they have no feeling or emotional reaction. In other words, they act and feel "flat" or dead inside. To have low affect is to have very little feeling response, which means that almost nothing excites or stirs one, and one is essentially robotic as a responsive being.
Magic is a practice of causing change, which is to say creating specific effects by virtue of our will and intent focused through spells, chants, rituals and so forth. Magic by its very nature is an 'affective' process. Magic is the 'affect' that causes the effect or the result and fulfillment of one's will.
Focus is often said to be important to actualizing one's magic, which is to say making it effective. This is one of the themes of Madeline Miller's novel Circe. But affect or feeling is also frequently associated with making one's magic work, as well as with activating intuitive, psychic 'super', otherworldly and eldritch powers. We can see this frequently in shows where the individual can't seem to arouse their particular gift or power until they get angry by being endangered or provoked in some way and then their power suddenly manifests. Affect is the fuel of magic. Magic, while it can be viewed as a mere intellectual exercise, as science is generally seen as being, is not just a performance of technique or a rote carrying out of actions based upon a formula of some sort. That may be alright for chemistry. In fact, it may be advisedly so, or for automechanics, but magic is not just a science it is also and primarily an art. And for art, affect or feeling is greatly advised both in its expression and as it resonates with its viewer. The goal of art is affect, as is the goal and purpose of magic.
The Wilhelm/Baynes translation of the I Ching states that we cannot affect others if we are not open to being affected ours'elves. Magic is a relationship between us, Nature, the Universe and all who are around us. Without that relationship we cannot affect anything. And while the relationship can be merely physical, feeling brings a new, more subtle and deeper aspect to relationship. We go beyond the material plane into the astral planes of manifestation.
So, it is that shamans, ancient and modern, use chants, drumming and dance to arouse an ecstatic feeling within them. For anger is not the only means of arousing affect and, in the opinion of these elves, not the most effective means either. Anger drains one while ecstasy heals and empowers one. Anger can be controlled and channeled but to continually arouse anger within ones'elf is not, as far as we Silver Elves are concerned, the best of ideas. Whereas, arousing the ecstatic feeling is nearly always a good idea.
Of course, there are those who will attempt to 'fake' affect, just as there are those who attempt to pretend to be angry or otherwise be affected by someone with which they are in a personal relationship in order to manipulate others. However, while this may work and some folks may be fooled, true affect is much more powerful and its effects are far reaching. Actors, of course, are in the business of mimicking affect and if they are good actors they do this very well. But, even then, true affect is far more powerful.
The magic of the elves, of course, and elfae folk overall, as legend and lore tell us, is enchantment (see our book The Keys to Elfin Enchantment: Mastery of the Faerie Light Through the Portals of Manifestation). And enchantment, by its very nature, is a magic that is dependent upon the arousal of affect. This magic, naturally, is beneficial to both the magic wielder and the one effected by our enchantments for the enchanter experiences the ecstatic feeling and the other senses it and is moved by it, in that way sharing in the ecstasy that we feel. For otherwise, our magic is marked by anhedonia, or an inability to experience pleasure in our workings.
And even science, which can seem an exclusively mental affair, is best when the scientist is excited by their research and inquiries into Nature and its workings. The best scientists are ever those who are thrilled by the prospect and reality of discovery. And it is this thrill of learning and the possibility of the discovery of the Great and Secret Knowledge (see the novel Piranesi by Susanna Clark) that attracts most scientists to their profession.
Affect, in a sense, is life. Without it one feels dead and in the minds of most people one might as well be so without affect. This is why so many individuals who are experiencing schizophrenia go off their meds. For their meds usually make them feel dull and lifeless. And while schizophrenia can launch them into uncontrolled journeys into the netherworlds, ripping away the veil that protects most individuals from seeing that greater reality, they, at least, feel alive in their madness.
So, beloved elfae kindred ours, embrace your joy and channel it toward your magic. Let your magic excite your feelings while keeping your mind calm and steady, if not mostly silent and serene, which is to say focused, and let your affect touch the world and infect it with love, laughter and the enchantments of Elfin.
Kyela,
The Silver Elves
Click Here to go to our introductory page on The Silver Elves . . . Elves in Paradise 
And if you enjoyed the article above, we suggest that you also read our articles below on Elven Magic:
And you can find all 80+ of The Silver Elves books on the elven way and magic on our author Amazon international pages here:
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“The Way of the Elves winds through the trees, in time you relax and your tensions do ease, you sigh as the sun filters through leaves, and are helped on your way by a welcoming breeze.”
—The Silver Elves
Many people ask us which Silver Elves books to begin reading first and so we say, which ever sounds right to you, follow your elven intuition, as there is really no right order in which to read them (you may view all 60 of these on our author Amazon page here for the USA and here for UK)! But if you would like a suggestion, you may wish to begin with one or more of these books listed below:1. Through The Mists Of Faerie: A Magical Guide to the Wisdom Teachings of the Ancient Elven This is our most popular book and one we highly recommend reading by anyone interested in elves and the elven way.
2. The Elven Way: The Magical Path of the Shining Ones This is a companion book to Through the Mists of Faerie, but may be read in any order. It is also a very popular book and a good one to start with.
3. The Book of Elven Runes: A Passage Into Faerie We invite you to join our Silver Elves Youtube Channel where we occasionally make an elfin video! Here is one we made today in which we talk about Norse Runes and our own original Elven Rune set and The Book of Elven Runes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kAtuMRiMgo&t=7s
4. The Book of Elven Magick, The Philosophy and Enchantments of the Seelie Elves, volume 1, explores the Elven viewpoint concerning magick and the world, and traditional spiritual and religious myths. It covers all the color magicks, the tools of magic, and gives magical ceremonies that may be adapted for use by modern elves, magicians, and faerie folk. The Book of Elven Magick, The Philosophy and Enchantments ofthe Seelie Elves, Volume 2, continues the progression of the color magicks and proceeds on into the nature and establishment of the Elven Vortex/Coven, using mudras and tattoos in magic, using mantras in magic, our theories on calling the directions/dimensions, magical words of power, and much more. It is the completion of and companion to volume 1.
If you would like to read some excerpts from our Silver Elves books on Elven Magic, tables of contents, and book reviews from elfae kindred, then please do click here! More on The Book of Elven Runes and others of our Silver Elves oracles books may be found here! And more on Through the Mists of Faerie and The Elven Way, may be found here.
“We elves see ours’elves as actors in a play conceived by the Divine Magic in which extemporaneous improvisation is greatly encouraged.”
—The Silver Elves
We also suggest that if you have questions about the Elven Way and being an elf, then you may also wish to read The Magical Realms of Elfin: Answers to Questions About Being an Elf and Following the Elven Path. If you are curious about elves and want to learn more about modern elves, then you will surely find The Magical Realms of Elfin to contain many of your questions answered and it will be a great comfort and help in finding your way home to the magical realms of Elfin.
“Elves are both ancient and modern at the same time. Our culture is ancient but still thriving in modern times, which makes us seem both very old and very young at the same time.”
—The Silver Elves
We also invite you to join our elven and otherkin groups on Facebook, dear Kindred! Here is our vision for the groups as a virtual community:
For those wishing to join our many Silver Elves groups for Elfae and also friends of Elfae on Facebook, here is fairly complete list below of ones that we administer: You are all invited to any and all of them! We envision our 16+ Elfae Facebook groups as all connected (so in a way all one big elfae community group) and so going from one to the other is like meandering or flying around and being in a large elven community. It is like beautiful and enchanting large multi-story house that is inhabited by a number of elfae groups: (bottom floor has three private groups inside: The Elven Wayand also Feasting with the Elves with a big kitchen and dining area for chatting, along with the Elven Homegroup); (second floor has the Faerie Craft group with a large display studio for elfae art); and (in the attic is the Elven Oracles Group where group oracle readings are always being shared). There are also lots of large enclosed or screened in porches off the main house (where you will find: Magical Books of the Silver Elves, Elfin Faerie Lore, Elven Life and Magicand We Adore Elves); there are also two gazebos, one is outside in the front lawn for Elvish Magical Chat and the other is in the back yard for I heart Elven Magic; an open circle outside around the bonfire to the side of the house for the Elf Witches of the Mystic Moon group; a quaint tree house out front for Elfae Tree Folk to meet; a faerie circle that is a bit beyond the back of the house in the forest for The Faerie Circle group to meet; and at the front gate is a cozy elfae cottage for those first entering to be greeting in the group Silver Elves Embassy. There is also a path from the house that wanders down to the creek and goes through where the group Nature and the Unseen Realms with the Elves and Otherkin meet and also that leads to meeting placesfor United Otherkin Alliance and its private sister group. So please do come join us in any and all of our groups:
The Magical Books of the Silver Elves — https://www.facebook.com/groups/539205916250397 This is our largest elfae group on Facebook and where you will find us Silver Elves often hanging out! And if you would like to find out more about our 60 The Silver Elves books on The Elven Way, please do join us! We have discussions here about our Silver Elves books as well as about Elven and Otherkin philosophy, elven lifestyle and the Elven Way. If you have read our books and would like to discuss them with us, this is the place to come join in the discussions and ask also questions. And please do come share here in this group your own creative elven works of art, music, writing, crafts, or whatever you do to manifest Elfin in your life in your own way, as well as your thoughts and feelings about living the life Elfin.
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Elven Home — https://www.facebook.com/groups/1712981718807166 This is an enchanting and private place for all elfae folk to share in cozy comfort. Feel free to share anything elfae related, and please do share (with images when you can) all about your own Eald (Elven Home) and the special aspects of it that make it your own enchanting elfin space.
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Elfae Tree Folk— https://www.facebook.com/groups/499002196782965 A place to share anything about the beloved trees that we elfae love so very dear and about life as a tree folk. This group is for you to spread your elven light through the day & the night and the forest.
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Elven Life and Magic — A group for fae folk of all kinds posting their magic and how they manifest living as an elfae. https://www.facebook.com/groups/629491797123886
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Elvish Magical Chat — Posting and chatting all about elves, faeries, pixies, and magic! https://www.facebook.com/groups/307775362744491
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The Faerie Circle — A group for the magical elfae folk. Be ever blest!https://www.facebook.com/groups/1025483294180077
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Elf Witches of the Mystic Moon — A place to share your magic and enchantment with other elf witches! https://www.facebook.com/groups/806583242768352
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Faerie Craft —This is a group to share your elven and fae creations, and yes you are welcome to advertise your elfish/faerie crafts. https://www.facebook.com/groups/395403367195312
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I Heart Elven Magic — For those who love Elfin Magic. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2215672296
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Feasting With the Elves (having fun sharing elven recipes and healthy eating) — https://www.facebook.com/groups/597948240617006
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United Otherkin Alliance —https://www.facebook.com/groups/328253710566869 This is an alliance for Otherkin/ Therians, where elves, faeries, dragons, kitsune, gnomes, hobbits, merkin, pixies, brownies, nymphs, driads, niaids, valkyrie, vampires, devas, fauns, unicorns, animal kin and all manner of Faerie Folk gather and come together! This group is open to anyone who wishes to be part of a congenial group of Otherkin. And its sister private group: *United Otherworld Friendshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/UnitedOtherworldFriends
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The Elven Way — This group creates a place for people to learn about the Elven Way and for Elves, Otherkin, and their friends to have a fun gathering place to enjoy each other's company and share things on the path. It is open to anyone who wishes to learn about the Elven Way and friends of such. This is one of our few private groups on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/165938637423212
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Nature & the Unseen Realms with the Elves & otherkin. A spiritual journey — This is a very active elven and otherkin group posting those generally unnoticed realms and wonders of Nature. https://www.facebook.com/groups/196916350335537
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Elfin Faerie Lore — For Faeries and Elfin Folk. This group is for sharing elfin faerie lore, magic and life as Fae. https://www.facebook.com/groups/975038062512421
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Silver Elves Embassy — This is a place of rest and gathering together to relax and share our stories, dreams for the future, and magic of our elfin adventures. We Silver Elves share some of our magical tales and adventures in this group that have lead us to further embrace the Shining Ones. https://www.facebook.com/groups/206231890276255
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We Adore Elves — This group is just a little hideaway for us to all come share our love for elves and elven and our elfin-faerie creativity as we manifest Elven in our lives. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Elfae
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Also do look for our other elfae groups on Facebook: Elfae Spirituality Group, Elfae Tree Folk, Elven Oracles Group, and Elfin Faerie Lore.
