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Archive-name: magick/faq
Updated: 200502 Posting-frequency: monthly or by inquiry See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge *alt.magick FAQ Part 1. General* What is alt.magick about? The technical and scholarly discussion of magick and related arts and sciences. This includes but isn't limited to: alchemy, Kabbalah/ Qabalah, Western ritual magick, Hermetics, renaissance neoplatonism, Eastern mysticism, Neo-Pagan magick, folk magick, chaos magick, divination, mythology, and occult and magical organizations. Methods and schools of magick vary. The general viewpoint in alt.magick is to try for a dogma-free approach to magick, which precludes a lot of religious discussion, although we draw religious and mystical vocabulary in *all* the time, since we are too short-lived to reinvent all the symbols in the world. What is magick, and why do you spell it with a 'k'? There is no universally agreed-upon definition of magick. One popular definition is "the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will" (put forth by Aleister Crowley). Some see it as a change in external reality, sometimes internal reality (perception or worldview or consciousness). Magick can also be defined as any of a variety of life-practices that devote the practitioner to self- and (thereby) environment- transformation. Crowley revived the archaic 'ick' spelling that had dropped out of fashion by the early 1800s. 'K' is the eleventh letter of the English alphabet. The number eleven has quite a few symbolical imports. Eleven is the number attributed to the Qlippoth (chaotic, unbalanced forces in the Qabalah). Eleven represents the union of the microcosm (pentagram - five) with the macrocosm (hexagram - six). On a Thelemic note, eleven is the number of words in "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law", the number of letters in Abrahadabra, and the number attributed to Nuit. 'K' can also be seen as standing for kteis (vagina - cup), the complement to the peos (penis - wand), which directly relates to the creative power of magick and is symbolic of the Great Work. On a more mundane level, the 'k' helps to distinguish magick from stage magic (prestidigitation). What are related subjects I can explore? Any and all of the following might provide some thought provoking material: mysticism, sorcery, tantra, kundalini, psychology, parapsychology, chaos theory, quantum physics, OBE, spirit visions, sex magick, talismans, amulets, charms, potions, ESP, memetics, Satanism, Zen, Discordianism, channeling, Theosophy. What are some good sources of online information? Many websites come and go. The nature of the internet prevents reliance upon any particular site's indefinite presence. Your best bet is to use a search engine for keywords such as "magick", "enochian", "pagan", "golden dawn", "aleister crowley" or any of the terms one finds while lurking in alt.magick. You can also check with online bookstores for available books on subjects you find interesting. What is alt.magick not about? This newsgroup is not about specific religions (Pagan, Satanist, Christian, New Age, whatever). It is not about stage magic. It is not about the Necronomicon. It is not about conspiracy theories. All of these topics have their own newsgroups already. What kind of enquiry is appropriate here? Specific questions are more likely to receive a positive and helpful response than general 'teach me magick' type enquiries. Are there any archives? Google at http://groups.google.com/group/alt.magick maintains the most complete archive of alt.magick. *alt.magick FAQ Part 2. For those new to magick* Is magick real, can anyone prove it? Usually this question is asked by someone who thinks they already know what magick is. Once you have made up your mind, it is difficult to unmake it, so throw out what you think you know and try for a fresh perspective. There are any number of demonstrations of the intentional manipulation of reality. Aleister Crowley wrote that all intentional acts are magical acts. Every act we perform is a mysterious operation by which what we conceive becomes what happens, to a greater or lesser degree. Now, usually, when we think of magick we don't think of something so banal as twiddling our thumbs. We think of somehow affecting the world around us directly by manipulating symbols, thoughts, and feelings. So, let's consider the placebo effect. A placebo is a chemically inert substance that has the power to heal or relieve symptoms entirely because the recipient believes that it is, in fact, medicine. The placebo effect can be and has been measured by scientific experiments, beginning with H.K. Beecher's study, published as "The Powerful Placebo" (1955, JADA 159:1602-1606). Beecher's methods of inducing the placebo effect were unsophisticated and the researchers got only about a one-in-three positive response. More recently, The Power of Non- specific Effects in Healing: Implications for Psychosocial and Biological Treatments. (Roberts, A. H., D. G. Kewman, L. Mercier, and M. Hovell. 1993. Clinical Psychology Review 13:375-391), determined that "under conditions of heightened expectations, the power of non- specific effects (placebos) far exceeds that commonly reported in the literature." They found that in more than 7000 cases, the healing power of placebos occurred in almost 70% of them. The placebo effect is a prime example of how our beliefs and expectations, unaided by any other physical medium, can affect the way we feel and the way our bodies act. This is magick, demonstrated scientifically. As John Dodes, author of "The Mysterious Placebo" (Skeptical Inquirer January/February 1997 Vol. 21, No. 1), advises, "Paracelsus (Swiss alchemist and physician 1493-1541) wrote: 'You must know that the will is a powerful adjuvant of medicine.' It is imperative that skeptics recognize the wisdom and warnings inherent in this statement." To be sure, there are many claims made by people who practice some form of magick that they can induce psychic powers, open communications with non-corporeal entities, cause certain events to occur, and so forth. Some of these claims are clearly specious; others may not be. It is well to consider such claims as what they are: claims unsupported by experimental evidence gathered in a careful and scientific manner. It's a good idea to check things out for yourself, carefully and thoroughly, before you make a decision on the merits of any particular claim. Yet, for all of that, it is a fact that magick can and does produce some real and demonstrable phenomena. How do I even start to figure out what to say? Read what other people say and try to learn from the responses they get. If you want to learn more, and want to use alt.magick as a learning resource, that's fine. Ask a specific question. If you don't have a specific question to ask, then go and do some research until you have one. Displays of ignorance do not tend to be clamped down on, however displays of laziness or stupidity do. Also, it is important to remember that many of us come from differing backgrounds, so please do not assume that we have terms in common. If people react to your posting, it is very likely on the grounds of some semantic misunderstanding. Communication is an unending miracle, which we renew every time we read something on the net. None of us are perfect at it, so don't worry *too* much, and never take anything personally if folks react to it (even if they tell you so). Anyone taking himself or herself too seriously here is missing the point... Primary prereq for the group is a broad sense of humor. Eny ov u doodz got eny kewl spelz? Al ov uz doodz hav plenti ov kewl spelz. However, why should we share them with you? If you want to participate in the technical and scholarly discussion of magick, that's fine. If, however, you simply want magick to be handed to you on a plate, you're in the wrong place. Anyway, we're all basically selfish bastards and jealously guard our grimoires. Seriously, some of us doodz have found that simple repetition of what others have done before isn't a useful way of achieving one's own goals, and thus that simply giving someone a spell without engendering at least that much of an understanding would be a worthless thing to do. Can someone teach me a love spell? Most of the regular posters will blankly refuse such a request. The employment of such a spell (which would by its very nature contravene the free will of another person) is, by many, considered abhorrent, and anyone who would need to ask for one is often deemed, by the nature of their asking, to be too immature and irresponsible to be given one. Will someone be my teacher? Most of the regular posters are too busy to take on the role of personal mentor. However, if you ask a specific question, the chances are that someone will attempt to answer it. We are all learning from each other. What books should I read to get started? http://www.asiya.org/altmagickfaq/books.html Where can I find a group to help me learn? Firstly, you have to ask why you would want to join a group. Secondly you have to bear in mind that a group will teach you what the group wishes to teach you. If you join an established magical order, it will have its own agenda that may not necessarily best serve your purposes. If you wish to join a group simply to have people to talk to, fair enough, go for it, but try to keep an open mind about everything you are told. Treat the group as you would one of many textbooks on a subject, something that can give you knowledge you may accept or reject. As for how to find one, lurk on alt.magick or similar newsgroups and you'll see adverts for groups before too long. Most of the regular posters on alt.magick would advise you to steer clear of them, but you have to walk your own path. How do I get started? WORK, don't just READ. Regardless of the magical tradition you chose to explore, it is essential that you do something; otherwise, you will simply be studying, not doing magick. Also, be prepared to work at whatever you start. Magick is not an easy option. Keep an open mind, but at the beginning do not make anything other than very tentative conclusions; do not try to ascribe "objective validity" to any results. Keeping a record is handy. Simple, *consistent*, and thorough application of whatever techniques your paradigm requires, over a period of say, six months, should be a very useful grounding. Regardless of chosen system or tradition, there are certain practices that will fundamentally improve your ability to do any kind of magical work. #1 Breath control, i.e. rhythmic breathing #2 Self Hypnosis (any of a thousand published methods) #3 Committed Daily Practice These apply to all systems. *alt.magick FAQ Part 3. Specific topics* What is the difference between black, white and grey magick? In one well-respected tradition, the goal of magick can be considered the union of the magician with the divine, the raising of the human consciousness unto the higher consciousness. Any operation that is not ultimately directed towards this goal is black magick. The terms arise because "white" magick signifies the divine light, and "black" magick signifies moving away from the divine light, into darkness. In a more popular sense, black magick is used to describe operations that are intrinsically selfish (usually involving harm to others). The analogy is obvious; the above aim is to unite the individual with the whole, to "destroy" the Self essentially, the feeling of individuality that separates us from the divine. Thus, "selfish" operations are by definition in conflict with this goal. In this sense, "grey" magick can be applied to operations that, although not directed towards this ultimate goal, are not selfish, and arise mainly out of ignorance, rather than malice (e.g. operations to heal others). Are telepathy and telekinesis magick? Telepathy, telekinesis, and any number of other so-called "paranormal" abilities have been advanced by some as being the force that accounts for some or all of the effects observed by people who do magical operations. There is little-to-no concrete evidence in support of this. Yet, it would be an error to say that there is no possibility that such powers may play a part in any particular event. The power behind magick is the power behind consciousness. That has never been adequately explained and perhaps it never will be. To call it a "paranormal" power is merely to limit the way you look at it by imposing another level of verbiage on it. That said, it does all rather depend on your definition of magick. If magic is causing change in conformity with Will, then picking up a pen and writing a letter is a magical act. If that's the case, then one cannot sensibly exclude the willed act of transmitting a thought as any less magical. Who was Aleister Crowley? Aleister Crowley, 1875 - 1947 One of the most influential writers on magick of all time. His concept of magick entailed "the aim of religion, the method of science". Was a member of the Golden Dawn, founded the A.'.A.'., and went on to head the OTO. His goal in life was to establish and promulgate the "Law of Thelema", embodied in Liber Legis, whose main thrust can be summed up in the quote from that book, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law". He aimed to synthesize all religions and magical systems of the world, and to free the essential internal procedures from the misleading and varying dogmas to which other systems subject them. Who was Israel Regardie? Israel Regardie, 1906 - 1985 The most influential authority on the Golden Dawn system of magick. Was a member of the G.'.D.'., the A.'.A.'., and a IX degree member of the OTO. Was almost single-handedly responsible for the survival of the knowledge and system of the original Golden Dawn. His book, "The Complete System of Golden Dawn Magic" is *the* authority on the subject. He was a qualified psychiatrist, and one of his goals was to integrate psychology with magick, to realize the essentially similar goal of both. What are TOPY, LBRP, QC, KCHGA, BOTL, AA, OTO, GD, etc? Acronyms standing for: Temple ov Psychick Youth, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, the Qabalistic Cross, Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel, the Book Of The Law, Argenteum Astrum, Ordo Templis Orientalis, the Golden Dawn, etcetera. Ok, ok, so what is the Temple ov Psychick Youth, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, etc? ToPV: Temple ov Psychick Youth Founded in 1982 by musicians and magicians Genesis P-Orridge and Peter Christopherson. Drawing inspiration from both Crowley and Austin Osman Spare, they attempted to create a set of magical techniques based on using sexual energy. To articulate this, they wrote a manifesto called the Gray Book. Additional to the material in the Gray Book was the Temple convention of using a unique system on spelling. This was not done in a random fashion, but was done to remind the reader and writer of the hidden aspects of language. The Temple underwent a number of changes during its existence. In 1992, Genesis P-Orridge departed the group and proclaimed it dissolved. The Temple members continue their activities under the name regardless and are still pursuing their initial end as articulated in the Gray Book. LBRP: Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram A short ritual, including the Qabalistic Cross, aimed to "eliminate from the sphere of the mind those qualities or sensations which the critical ego deems unnecessary". It aims to release the internal power of the magician from constricting mental restraints. QC: Qabalistic Cross A short, simple magical practice in which the magician expands his consciousness by imagining his body growing to immense proportions, and visualizes being the center of a vast cross of light within him. Aim is to "bring the divine light down to the magician", or to help him realize consciousness with the divine, to "ally the personality with the true sources of life". KCHGA: Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel A lengthy operation, coined in "The Book of the Sacred Magick of Abramelin the Mage" and subsequently used by the Golden Dawn and Crowley, and which constitutes success in the outer orders of both of them; all previous instructions are directed towards this goal. The term suggests direct conscious apprehension of that which guides us through life in the "correct way", free from all self-constricting neuroses, complexes, influences, and self-misapprehensions; when it has been accomplished, the Adept needs little or no further guidance from others. There is no set method; the operation will differ for each magician. BOTL: Book of the Law Liber AL vel Legis, the "Bible" of Thelema. Claimed by Crowley to have been dictated to him in 1904 by a being called Aiwaz, whose nature he could never explain satisfactorily. AA: Argenteum Astrum The magical order created by Crowley at the beginning of the twentieth century, along the lines of the Golden Dawn, incorporating Liber Legis and various other techniques Crowley liked (especially yogic practices). No longer extant in its original form, though a few groups today call themselves A.'.A.'., and claim they have directly descended from Crowley's order. GD: The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Magical, Rosicrucian order founded towards the end of the Nineteenth Century, to which a huge amount of today's magical literature owes its existence. Valuable for the fact that it presents a very definite, coherent, and practical system of self-development, with little bullshit, which has influenced a huge amount of magical "authorities", including Crowley. Fell apart in 1904, though again, many orders today claim they have descended from the original. What Magical Orders are there, what do they do? Magick is ultimately an individual affair. Magical orders or groups may have valid reasons for existence, but they will not make learning magick any easier, you will not have to do less work, and you will not gain any significant knowledge merely by being a member. Orders can exist for a variety of reasons: 1. To spread knowledge. Whilst this may have been a valid reason some years ago, the relative freedom of expression and lack of persecution nowadays, the proliferation of books on the subject, and the internet pretty much negate this reason. Moreover, as is stated elsewhere within this document, the best teacher is usually the universe itself. Many orders claim to have "secret" knowledge that they will only disclose to "worthy aspirants". This is nonsense. If any "secret" knowledge was in any way important, it is extremely unlikely that it would be confined to a small group of manic wand wavers. Secrets (within orders) exist for one reason, to attract and ensnare members. The greatest secret of most magical orders is that they don't have a secret. 2. To facilitate the process of finding others to work with. This would be valid if one were to consider magick from a strictly ceremonial sense. If not, then there are oodles of people one can work with, all around. Yet, if such ceremonial group workings are your wont, then seeking an order may be worthwhile, if this was all the order concentrated on. The ego wars, and the "groups-for-groups'- sakes" mentality can easily kill whatever value is there, however; a mailing list could solve this problem with a lot less fuss than could an order. Working solely with other "like-minded" individuals can also be constricting, and can channel the magician for miles along the wrong path; the magician should expand his horizons, not narrow them. What is the Abyss? The Abyss, as discussed on alt.magick, is the "next big stage" after KCHGA in the Golden Dawn system. KCHGA implies identification with the true self, being a part of the whole. Crossing the Abyss implies identification with the whole itself, or to be more precise, with Nothing. It is a *realization* (rather than a mere logical deduction; human reason is individual and imperfect, and is not capable of comprehending, or identifying with, the whole) that all individual preferences, feelings, emotions, opinions, leanings and attachments are illusions, merely symptoms of the interplay between the parts which make up the whole of the universe. This being the case, one state of the universe is not preferred over any other by the consciousness above the Abyss. Death, destruction, deceit, and disease become mere incidents in what is a rather small corner of the universe. This is however, a somewhat difficult term to define since understanding of its nature is impossible without direct, personal experience of it. What is a paradigm shift? A paradigm shift is a term used by Thomas Kuhn in his book, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" to describe the process by which one model of the universe is transformed into another in the scientific community. A paradigm is an example, literally a "model" used to organize and understand phenomena. A theory that does not fit the given paradigm is not likely to meet with approval from the general population of the community and will tend to be seriously contested until the evidence of the superiority of a new paradigm can be established. If the most powerful individuals in their fields accept the new paradigm, there occurs a "paradigm shift" and the new model becomes established in the community. This generally takes a long time and is not entirely a logical process. A paradigm shift then is essentially a change in the primary example, or "model", used to explain and predict events. How does science relate to magic, are they opposites? Magick, as we know it in Western cultures, arises from the Gnostic religious philosophies. "Gnosis" means "knowing". Instead of simply believing or accepting the workings of the universe on faith, a student and practitioner of magick seeks to "know" them, to experience them directly and to seek some consistency to their operation, and, through this knowledge, to exert control over them. In the realm of observable phenomena, the most refined way to do this is the scientific method. "Science" also means "knowing". So, science is a form of magick, refined into a high degree of reliability where it is applied to physical phenomena. There is nothing in science that contradicts the operation of magick. However, since magick also addresses experiences and events not independently observable, the methods of science do not always apply to it with any conclusive results. Hard science advocates a causal materialism to be the proper paradigm for explaining and understanding events in reality. Of course, science is not monolithic, and a great many individual scientists vary in what degree they agree with the underlying assumptions. Magick, with all its various schools, can be characterized as arising from differing metaphysical assumptions. Thus, one can practice effective magick or science with varying assumptions. Some metaphysical viewpoints allow the practice of both without contradiction, and in others, they are distinct. How can I summon a demon? The same way you summon anything; it is only necessary to call it forth with the whole of your will. Demons and angels are parts of the psyche, constructs of the ego perhaps. A general distinction could be made that demons work at odds with the will of the magician (e.g. phobias), and that angels work along with the will of the magician (e.g. character strengths). Nonetheless, both demons and angels can be employed in the fulfillment of the magician's will, and demons can assume a new master, and be converted into angels. In this sense, summoning demons is a lot easier than summoning angels. Demons always want to creep up on you, and mess things up. You don't really need to summon one, you just need to let go of your hold on it, and it will be off doing its demonic work. <insert biblical temptation- in-the-desert analogy> Constraining a demon to do your will is more likely to be a constructive operation, than is summoning one. This is merely (!) a question of authority. Demons are intrinsically weak, but have a special aptitude at finding the weak spots of the magician, and striking at the most inopportune moments. They also like to gang together, and have a nasty habit of letting you think you got the better of them, lulling the magician into a false sense of security before bringing him down once and for all. To truly constrain a demon requires the confidence and authority that comes from discovering the true will. Before summoning demons, it may well be worth considering if the action is a wise one or not. Having the answer to the next question would certainly be advisable. How do I get rid of unwanted demons? Demons are a part of the personality. To try to "get rid" of them is to deny a part of your being, and is destructive. The correct approach is to constrain, or exert control over them; to subdue them to your will. The first step is to know and understand the demon. You cannot hope to control it unless you understand its nature and how it works; you must know your opponent before you can conquer it. You must unconditionally accept the existence of said demon, and objectively seek to discover and understand its name, characteristics, methods of operation, and weak spots. To accomplish this requires a high degree of self-honesty, courage, and discrimination. There is a variety of more or less well known psychological methods to aid in this (e.g. psychoanalysis, methods for treating phobias), and a well-constructed magical system will provide for this in the banishing stages of the magician's psyche. Once this is accomplished, subduing the demon to your will requires no less courage and determination. This question is one of authority (demons, being parts of the personality, belong to the magician; the magician does not belong to them. The magician must therefore make him/ herself Master over them), and willpower (demons are cunning; all avenues of escape to them must be closed), the development of both being integral parts of any valid magical system of development. As ever, there are no set methods for this, except for the general guidance given to the magician to *discover his/her own nature*. *alt.magick FAQ Part 4. alt.magick as a community* Why are you all so antagonistic to newcomers? Much of the time people start posting to alt.magick without having done any research or preparation of their own. This is annoying to many of the regular posters, and an indication that the new poster is unlikely to be sufficiently dedicated that any positive replies will be time well spent. Furthermore, those that are prepared to persevere in their line of questioning despite the antagonism are most likely to be the ones that will persevere in their study of magick. What is an idiot filter? It is a device to weed out the idiots from the others. This often takes the form of an antagonistic rebuttal (see: Why are you all so antagonistic to newcomers?) This term was coined by Josh and often took the form of a request for the possible idiot to "Shut up. Go away." Why should I shut up and go away? Of all the potential teachers you can have, the greatest is the entire universe. However, most of us spend far too much time being loud to actually pay attention to the universe. If you shut up for a while, it is possible that you will learn something. As for going away, it is not always necessary that all of you go away, just parts. What can I do to minimize being the target of antagonism? Firstly, wait a while before posting. Read the kinds of things other people post. Secondly, do some of your own research. Simply asking us to do your work for you will not go down well. Thirdly, conform to Usenet convention. Make sure your newsreader has word-wrap set, try not to include the entirety of a post you are responding to, but do include at least the most recent attribution, and don't simply reply to add "Me too." Do not post commercial adverts, binaries, or religious dogma. Why does it matter if I don't spell properly or if my grammar is poor? We are discussing many abstract and complex subjects. If you have an insufficient grasp of the basic tools of language, many will doubt your ability to adequately understand their ideas or communicate your own. Who is in charge on alt.magick? No one and everyone. Who is the group monitor / moderator? The Invisible Pink Unicorn. However, the Invisible Pink Unicorn has yet to pass judgment on any poster. Who is worth listening to? No one and everyone. Since magick and magical experience tends to be highly subjective, it is best to simply lurk for a while and read posts. Some posters will appeal to you more, not necessarily because their work is more valid, but perhaps simply because they phrase it in a way that makes more sense to you. Is there a formal order associated with alt.magick? None whatsoever. Who is Josh and why should I care? Josh Geller started alt.magick and has been one of the most prolific posters over the years. He has been a big influence on many of the regulars. Josh is not around as he used to be... he has too much else going on. As for why you should care, you shouldn't. Why do some people put equations that are wrong after their names (e.g. 8=3)? The equations signify grades in the Golden Dawn system, which range from 0=0 (neophyte), and 1=10 (Zelator) through to 10=1 (Iipsissimus), and do not attempt to convey any mathematical truths. The grades signify levels of attainment within that system, and within that system alone. However, certain grades reflect changes in consciousness that are universal, and mark stages in development, achievable by anyone: 0=0: Neophyte - marks an awareness of a spiritual goal, an awakening to there being "something higher". It is a beginning. "I am aware" 5=6: Adeptus minor - signifies attainment to the knowledge and conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel, identifying with the individual subconscious which manifests the universal Will in each person. Entails a *realization* of the individual's "place" in the universe, and of the individual's true will. "I do" 8=3: Magister Templi, "Master of the Temple" - signifies the crossing of the Abyss, or the identification with the universal Will itself. Entails a *realization* that the individual is but one manifestation of the whole, and that individual preferences, opinions, attachments and indeed the self, are illusionary. "It does through me" It must be borne in mind that although these grades represent the stages described, there may be any number of reasons why individuals choose to employ them on alt.magick, none of them worth a second thought. -- Asiya ********** http://www.asiya.org/altmagickfaq User Contributions:
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