...Are but an illusion where its application is concerned.

Absolutely and truly.

The only true force in Magick is generated by the mind (with its effectiveness in getting in touch with a higher authority where applicable).

All the herbs and incense and candles and circle casting and planetary calculations are NOTHING without the mind and a will to direct them. Conventional practitioners might attend a house of worship with regularity, recite prayers, know when to stand and to sit, or help out in the semiannual charity bazaar. But when you come right down to it, how you treat people and go through your life will make or break you when Judgement Day draws nigh.

Icons and items are merely tools to aid us. They help to set the mood and allow us to focus on the task at hand. They are not used to catch some superior entity's fancy, but to help us get in better touch with them. Superior entities just want to be sure that they hadn't created this existence in vain. It's likely they don't care what you call them (a human characteristic and need), just so long as it is said with respect and homage.

For the mind to function at full throttle without props is extremely rare. Rituals and icons bestow a sense of purpose and duty; their familiarity comforts. Timing and sensory correspondences (such as scent, colour, moon phase, etc.) serve to amplify the output of energy. The inspiration generated by this activity yields a stronger focus, and that is the reason for it all.

What people use, say, or do depends on their faith or cultural orientation. If you belong to an organised religion, search within its teachings for those "tools" to inspire, as well as that method of enhanced prayer. Then you've found your magickal niche.

If you wish to define personal methods, check out the bibliography area of this site. You will find that a great book will not merely list "how to" spells, but cover exercises to help one develop their spiritual awareness and come to their own decisions on how best to approach situations and by what method (magick or otherwise). The best spells are those you've created yourself. And of course a good book will stress the importance of taking responsibility for any consequences. Tools and correspondences are often charted and universal in their usage, but many are still open for reinterpretation (practitioners often say: "use whatever works," a byproduct philosophy from those times when there was no means of confirming a material's properties). With a book such as this, you can design your own rituals and spells according to your faith, and thereby bring you closer to it.