| Basics 1: READ ME FIRST |
| Written by Alan | |
| Thursday, 01 March 2007 | |
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What is magick? What does that mean? Magick is the science of experiencing truth. The truth isn't simply an idea, nor is it found in the relative or arbitrary nature of ideas; truth is experiential, and the practice of magick will lead you to an understanding of existence based on direct experience, not speculation. By its very nature, life is revelatory and so more incredible than any word or idea we can ascribe to it. You need only perform the experiment and corroborate this for yourself! Magick is the culture of experiencing truth. Magick necessarily includes sociological and ethical implications, whether they are consciously addressed or not. These range from what magical tradition, aesthetic, teaching or approach you ascribe to, to ethical questions such as: do you use magick just for yourself, close friends or the whole community? Do you evangelise magick, or do you practice in secret? Do you really want to try and maintain relationships with supposed friends who ridicule you for practicing the Black Arts? Should you find like-minded people for corroboration of experiences, the exchange of ideas, moral support and a god-damn fun and exciting time? Magick is not simply a method of manifesting material results, nor is meditation simply mysticism. There is no distinction between Western and Eastern methods of experiencing the truth; there is, and always has been, only one movement, one school, and one aim; in the West, we know it as Magick. For a more indepth discussion of the definition of magick, see the Magical Primer podcast series and our free ebook The Camel Rides Again! A Primer in Magick. Basics 3: Exclusive Concentration; Basics 4: Inclusive Awareness; Basics 11: Rising on the Planes Then when you're ready for it, it's time for: |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 April 2008 ) |
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Wow, this guide is probably something I needed considering I don't have much knowledge and experience regarding anything 'Magick', but do have interest in getting started.
I've recently looked over Future Ritual by Philip H. Farber and I'm halfway through Prime Chaos by Phil Hine.
Still, I've tried out some exercises and I might have had some beginner's luck in terms of getting these weird synchronicities. It's strange because I've noticed that the events occur typically around the gap between when I've just awoken from my night's rest and when I'm starting off my day in the morning. (I've wondering if being in the dreaming state has anything to do with it...)
Way-hay! I was beginning to think no one was reading this stuff.
In terms of the manifestation of a magical result (i.e. synchronicity), I usually experience them the next day too. I've heard claims that results always occur after a specific period of time that varies with each individual - Grant Morrison once said his occur 3 days after the act. However, I think it largely depends on what you are asking for - if you do some magic to go to Barbados, chances are yuo won't be flying there the next day.
I'll be getting into this a little more with a new series of podcasts (the first should be up soon), where I'll also be explaining my rather 'unorthodox' definition magic.
This is a nice site; and since I'm just starting out, I think I get the most out of reading about the sort of experiences you folks have got from these practices.
At the moment, I'm wondering about the possible pitfalls and dangers of practicing magic. I want to at least get some rough idea of just what the heck I'm getting myself into, so I've been searching around and reading up on different materials.
Aside from the possible ego trips that may sneak up on you, I'm curious if some of these 'entities' are a threat (a threat in that they have an independent existence and thus their own motive, and that they are not merely just some abstract part of you).
The most important thing to remember with magic is that what you experience is the truth i.e. if you perform a ritual to contact an entity, you have contacted an entity (even if all you are doing is talking to a doll). To then go away and tell your friends you were simply messing around with amplified parts of your brain is to deny what you experienced. An explanation or model (such as working with parts of the mind, or spirits as actual entities) is only true if you act on it (perform a ritual), and experience it; otherwise, it's just debate and nonsense. There is no one correct answer lurking behind the scenes.
The best place to start with entity work is with gods or spirits you know have your best interests at heart; I very much recommend working with Ganesha as your first point of call. Not only will this give you some experience in working with entities, you'll also gain a friend for life. He's helped me out on more occasions than I care to remember.
I think I'll add another podcast to the planned series covering the various dangers and pitfalls of practicing magic.
Alan, I did some Sigil magic just the previous night in order to, I suppose, test whether this stuff really works or not. Well, it worked to say the least -- it took about a day.
Basically, I intended to find some stranger's eye glasses. My friend who was walking beside me first spotted it. I looked to where he pointed and I saw the glasses; it was folded up around the gaps in the wiring of a fencing we were walking by. It seemed deliberately put there as if it wanted to be spotted. (No, my friend is not playing a prank on me; in fact, no one knows this besides me, and I know of no one outside the internet who does magic.) I am astonished and spooked out at the same time. I only got into this stuff a month ago; should I be getting results this fast?
Which leaves me with the question, where do I go from here? I feel this stuff now has a level of reality it didn't before, and I feel I should know as much about this subject as possible. It bothers me that I don't know how this became possible. I know theories abound, but which is right or are they all correct in a sense?
I also feel I must be cautious because I can imagine how I may get what I wished for, but not in a way I'd want. How to prevent this? And if I've done some ritual for something to manifest, but I should like to undo it, is it possible? Questions abound, and it'd be great if there was some resource that had some answers.
So far I've looked through Condensed Chaos, Prime Chaos, Liber Null, and FutureRitual (some I just skimmed).
It's not unusual to get results like that straight away. That's the thing about magic - it works! I remember it took a good number of years before I stopped being shocked whenever a result manifested.
It's pretty incredible that something like magic exists, but most people don't know about it; it's a real mind bender when you first start.
As for 'knowing why it works', adopt a model that best fits your experience. If Spare's 'unconscious' model seems to explain what you've experienced, go with that until you experience something that requires you to change your model. Never believe anything any one tells you about 'why' magic works; go off your own experience and what you think best accounts for that experience.
Just remember what I said above; what model you adopt to 'explain' a demon does not alter the fact that during the magical act you are dealing with a demon.
In terms of 'stoppping' magic, I've never heard of anyone ever needing to, although I have heard a lot of people doing this despite themselves. If you have any kind of grasping or aversion for a result, it may nullify it. What do you think you might ask for that you would want to stop? It's always good to consider how something you might ask for can manifest, and if it seems likely it could manifest in an undesirable way, revise what you are asking for in order to rule it out.
Regarding nullifying magic, I've asked because I can imagine how events could go 'wrong' yet still receive what I've originally asked for. Sort of like that saying 'be careful what you wish for' I suppose.
Today, for example, nothing went 'wrong' but if it wasn't for the fact that I left my house later than I was supposed to (my habit of tardiness that I'm really trying to get a handle on), I probably wouldn't have ran into those glasses. Mainly because it seems as if in order for the magical result to have reached me, I had to be there at that location and at that time; and tracing back all the events of the day leading to that moment, it is only due to an extraordinary chain of perfect timing and a series of making decision X instead of Y before I was able to receive the result. It was as if the universe was counting on me to be my usual tardy self.
I understand that the statement of intent should be clear and concise yet not overly complicated. This is my second Sigil work; the first one I did about nine days ago, and it's yet to manifest (if ever). I think my wording of the intent was a bit too long winded in my effort to be clear as possible, and further, it's something that I desire so despite myself I've found myself remembering the ritual.
When first formulating the intent, if in your mind what you want out of the spell is clear, does it matter if the wording itself is a bit lengthy? (I use the method where the repeated letters are eliminated, and the remainder are formed into a picture.)
Perhaps I'm being needlessly paranoid, but I am a bit frightened now I know what is possible. I won't be toying with this for sure; but I also can't turn back now. Sorry for rambling, I guess I'm looking for a way to approach this in a safe and healthy way.
Hi
Have just stumbled across the site, looks very interesting. I left whichever path I was on (not sure really) a while ago and today while surfing for more mundane topics I came across your site. Sent shivers right through me, I think you may have re-ignighted my interest. many thanx
Thank you very much for your kind comments - glad we could help!