"I believe there are many selves within us; that we are all cases of multiple personality-though generally unafflicted with the amnesia which is the hallmark of clinical manifestations of this condition. Sanity is a state in which our component selves love and trust each other and are prepared to let each other assume control as circumstances demand." Peter J. Carroll
This is probably an oversimplification, but generally correct. It is more accurate than the oft-heard mystical rhetoric which generally goes: "the self is an illusion", often an opener for some lecture on uniting with the "Divine", as it is assumed by said mystic that all IS the "Divine", and thus any distinction is but an illusion. If someone gives you that line, reach down and remove your shoe, swing it upside their head, and ask them if that felt like an illusion. A digression, I know...
The context of the sub-chapter from which the above quote is taken deals with the subject of invocation from the perspective of a Chaoist, or, perhaps simply from the perspective of Mr.Carroll. In particular, the dangers of invoking for the purpose of strengthening a particular self, as there is the danger of that self or adopted form overwhelming the others and causing a (sometimes drastic) narrowing of the personality and perspective at best, or eventual schizophrenia at worst.
Seem far-fetched? Watch someone who makes a drastic recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, only to devote their life to the service of God, or Jesus Christ, or Allah. They will generally become more stable people in the outset, since they have strengthened a personality through a particular godform which helps them achieve the goal of sobriety. But once they realize they've kicked the addiction, they typically carry that ladder with them everywhere they go (if they're generally successful in maintaining sobriety) in fear they will fall off the wagon if they abandon God or whoever, and along with that particular god comes the associated baggage and conflicted and sometimes unnecessary moral modifiers. Not to say there's anything terrible about this, as they're no longer destroying their health and bankrupting their families. But it illustrates a point: one can become dependent on an adopted symbol, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and at the expense of previously useful selves.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Basic 4
Sometimes referred to as "The Four Laws of the Magus" or "The Witch's Pyramid", these four statements typically constitute the basis for performing magic. If you have a background in magic, you're probably already familiar with them.
1. Know
2. Dare
3. Will
4. Remain Silent
Traditionally, these laws are attributed to the four cardinal directions, which in turn correspond to the four classical elements of western philosophy. These also have a symbolic connection to the four psychological functions of Jungian psychology, and the four descriptions of matter in antiquity.
As above, so below, and all around.
For the sake of brevity, I'll keep the explanations here rather broad.
1. KNOW
To know is to identify, whether through study for relatively superficial means, or for the goal of gnosis, or close identification with something other than self. This would be akin to "Imitation of Christ", invocation as opposed to mere evocation.
Knowledge of magical paradigm(s), their history and development. Knowledge of a target in preparation.
Before these and above all, knowledge of oneself.
2. DARE
To dare, identified with fire in the south, means resolve. Apart from the basis of knowledge, determination is needed to work magic. We dare to break free from any dogma which would prevent us from believing in what we wish to accomplish, which is quite a step further from simply understanding what must be done.
3. WILL
The term "will" is usually coupled with "power" to describe a kind of mental toughness and resolve, or to describe, in some modern occult literature, a predestined path which the magician must discover. Neither of these definitions suitably describe the command "to will".
Mental toughness is certainly required for magical success, but that applies more to the previous law, and a belief in any sort of predestined course is certainly not necessary for a magician. Rather, we refer to the exertion, or carrying out of one's wishes, or "doing the legwork". Unless you're going to do the work of acquiring the tools and materials, finding the best location or workspace you can, setting aside time (sometimes at very inconvenient hours), and directing the exhausting emotional energy into the work, you will never progress beyond contemplation.
Mysticism is fine for philosophers, but you cannot become a magician without DOING.
4. REMAIN SILENT
Attributed to Earth in the North.
Once it is done, let it be. All descriptions of this law are useless until you learn to do whatever it takes to withdraw and redirect your attention to something else, lest you step in the way of your work.
There ARE ways of managing your work with a minimum of effort, and ways of seemingly circumventing these laws, and they are worth researching.
But essential rules must be understood before they can be stretched or manipulated.
1. Know
2. Dare
3. Will
4. Remain Silent
Traditionally, these laws are attributed to the four cardinal directions, which in turn correspond to the four classical elements of western philosophy. These also have a symbolic connection to the four psychological functions of Jungian psychology, and the four descriptions of matter in antiquity.
As above, so below, and all around.
For the sake of brevity, I'll keep the explanations here rather broad.
1. KNOW
To know is to identify, whether through study for relatively superficial means, or for the goal of gnosis, or close identification with something other than self. This would be akin to "Imitation of Christ", invocation as opposed to mere evocation.
Knowledge of magical paradigm(s), their history and development. Knowledge of a target in preparation.
Before these and above all, knowledge of oneself.
2. DARE
To dare, identified with fire in the south, means resolve. Apart from the basis of knowledge, determination is needed to work magic. We dare to break free from any dogma which would prevent us from believing in what we wish to accomplish, which is quite a step further from simply understanding what must be done.
3. WILL
The term "will" is usually coupled with "power" to describe a kind of mental toughness and resolve, or to describe, in some modern occult literature, a predestined path which the magician must discover. Neither of these definitions suitably describe the command "to will".
Mental toughness is certainly required for magical success, but that applies more to the previous law, and a belief in any sort of predestined course is certainly not necessary for a magician. Rather, we refer to the exertion, or carrying out of one's wishes, or "doing the legwork". Unless you're going to do the work of acquiring the tools and materials, finding the best location or workspace you can, setting aside time (sometimes at very inconvenient hours), and directing the exhausting emotional energy into the work, you will never progress beyond contemplation.
Mysticism is fine for philosophers, but you cannot become a magician without DOING.
4. REMAIN SILENT
Attributed to Earth in the North.
Once it is done, let it be. All descriptions of this law are useless until you learn to do whatever it takes to withdraw and redirect your attention to something else, lest you step in the way of your work.
There ARE ways of managing your work with a minimum of effort, and ways of seemingly circumventing these laws, and they are worth researching.
But essential rules must be understood before they can be stretched or manipulated.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Tarot Class July 20th, 2010 6:30pm
God's Notebook:
An Introduction to the Tarot
Introduction, History, Development, Theory, and Practice
The history of the Tarot is a reflection of our common histories, our evolving values, our place in the world. The rich abundance of symbols which are featured in the traditional Western decks evolved from the mythologies of Ancient Egypt and earlier influencing cultures. The Tarot, whether used for divination, meditation, or as a study of our symbolic past, is a profound work of art which has expressed itself through various and diverse images, yet consistently conveyed the ideas which are most important to any society.
Introduction and History In this class, we will consider the earliest history of the Tarot, its connections to art and philosophy, and the lineage of our modern decks. This is an introductory class and does not require any prior experience or knowledge of divination or the Tarot.
Call 407-371-9665 for details
Abracadabra,
JM
An Introduction to the Tarot
Introduction, History, Development, Theory, and Practice
The history of the Tarot is a reflection of our common histories, our evolving values, our place in the world. The rich abundance of symbols which are featured in the traditional Western decks evolved from the mythologies of Ancient Egypt and earlier influencing cultures. The Tarot, whether used for divination, meditation, or as a study of our symbolic past, is a profound work of art which has expressed itself through various and diverse images, yet consistently conveyed the ideas which are most important to any society.
Introduction and History In this class, we will consider the earliest history of the Tarot, its connections to art and philosophy, and the lineage of our modern decks. This is an introductory class and does not require any prior experience or knowledge of divination or the Tarot.
Call 407-371-9665 for details
Abracadabra,
JM
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Simple Magic: Coin Divination
Simple tricks employed for oneself are the best and most efficient, though nothing impresses others more than complex and symbol-laden rituals.
May those who understand profit.
Here's a nifty trick for children, or adults with younger minds. More precisely, this as a simple divination method. As with any form of the art, this can be modified to suit one's taste, or adjusted for better results. I notice better results from (my taste)ful approaches.
Summary:
Three tosses of one coin to determine a yes or no, either/or question. Three consecutive heads or tails indicate a definite answer, while mixed results may indicate a less definite answer, a state of flux, or the need to wait.
Hard Conditions:
Person flipping coin cannot know question, thus necessitating two parties.
Coin should be of highest value available; gold and silver are not typically found in people's pockets in a typical situation requiring an answer, so a quarter would be ideal if no silver dollars are present.
The "determinant", or person interpreting the answer according to the flip, should have an understanding beforehand of which side of the coin will represent the two options, though heads is generally "yes", "male", "yang", "solar", etc., and tails is the seeming opposite. If no clear distinction into these polarities can be made, then another method should be sought, as this ability to sharply contrast and distinguish the options into opposites is critical to the game.
Soft Conditions:
Anything which disturbs the continuity of the three flips may or may not be seen as inauspicious, e.g., dropping the coin, interruption from outside source, forgetting the result of the last flip.
I once taught this trick to a few young people without going into elaborate theories or explanations. In fact, they think it's just a remarkable parlor trick. Of course, they're astounded at how consistently accurate their answers are, which makes perfect sense to someone who understands how incredibly powerful (yet unfocused) the magical abilities of most kids are.
I really admire those kids' success with what I taught them, and as a tribute to them and the real magic they perform, I won't even bother to expound on this method any further.
Abracadabra,
J.M.
May those who understand profit.
Here's a nifty trick for children, or adults with younger minds. More precisely, this as a simple divination method. As with any form of the art, this can be modified to suit one's taste, or adjusted for better results. I notice better results from (my taste)ful approaches.
Summary:
Three tosses of one coin to determine a yes or no, either/or question. Three consecutive heads or tails indicate a definite answer, while mixed results may indicate a less definite answer, a state of flux, or the need to wait.
Hard Conditions:
Person flipping coin cannot know question, thus necessitating two parties.
Coin should be of highest value available; gold and silver are not typically found in people's pockets in a typical situation requiring an answer, so a quarter would be ideal if no silver dollars are present.
The "determinant", or person interpreting the answer according to the flip, should have an understanding beforehand of which side of the coin will represent the two options, though heads is generally "yes", "male", "yang", "solar", etc., and tails is the seeming opposite. If no clear distinction into these polarities can be made, then another method should be sought, as this ability to sharply contrast and distinguish the options into opposites is critical to the game.
Soft Conditions:
Anything which disturbs the continuity of the three flips may or may not be seen as inauspicious, e.g., dropping the coin, interruption from outside source, forgetting the result of the last flip.
I once taught this trick to a few young people without going into elaborate theories or explanations. In fact, they think it's just a remarkable parlor trick. Of course, they're astounded at how consistently accurate their answers are, which makes perfect sense to someone who understands how incredibly powerful (yet unfocused) the magical abilities of most kids are.
I really admire those kids' success with what I taught them, and as a tribute to them and the real magic they perform, I won't even bother to expound on this method any further.
Abracadabra,
J.M.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Notes on the Earth
The earth element which represents the Jungian mode "sensation" is in turn represented by the pantacle.
Sensation typically refers to how we process information through our sense-organs, as opposed to how we analyze information with our minds, thus we are given the idea of body connected to earth. Or perhaps the connection between what we perceive as "us" and everything else. All of this is easier to understand symbolically than logically.
The pantacle is traditionally a disk with symbols engraved upon one or both sides. These symbols represent a magical perspective of the earth, the universe, a particular space which the magician has set aside, or even the magician himself, or may be a combination of any or all of these.
The pantacle is distinguishable from the pentacle which is a symbol- that of the five pointed star contained within a circle. The pantacle is an actual physical object.
In the Tarot, the pantacle is often seen, or at least represented, in the minor Arcana suit which is also represented by discs, coins, rocks, and in the common U.S. playing card decks as the diamond.
Within various magical systems, it is either derided as gross material substance which must be tolerated and transmuted, or, as in the case of Satanism, venerated as representing our sole known existence.
Crowley straddles somewhere between, and has a very interesting take on the symbolism of the pantacle in his BOOK 4:
It is interesting to note the mention of a glyphed serpent representing the circle. Many and far-flung cultures utilize the circle which is comprised of a serpent devouring its tail- to the point where it is an archetypal symbol in its own right. The Gnostic Ouroboros and the Scandinavian world-serpent number among interpretations which are found throughout Europe, Africa and North and South America. The Church of Satan's iconic Baphomet, which derives partly from the legend of the Knights Templar features a unique set of five Hebrew letters encircling the five-pointed star which translate to "Leviathan", the serpent of the watery abyss. It should be noted that the letters run counter clock-wise, the same direction which these serpent motifs typically seem to run, from tail to head.
Sensation typically refers to how we process information through our sense-organs, as opposed to how we analyze information with our minds, thus we are given the idea of body connected to earth. Or perhaps the connection between what we perceive as "us" and everything else. All of this is easier to understand symbolically than logically.
The pantacle is traditionally a disk with symbols engraved upon one or both sides. These symbols represent a magical perspective of the earth, the universe, a particular space which the magician has set aside, or even the magician himself, or may be a combination of any or all of these.
The pantacle is distinguishable from the pentacle which is a symbol- that of the five pointed star contained within a circle. The pantacle is an actual physical object.
In the Tarot, the pantacle is often seen, or at least represented, in the minor Arcana suit which is also represented by discs, coins, rocks, and in the common U.S. playing card decks as the diamond.
Within various magical systems, it is either derided as gross material substance which must be tolerated and transmuted, or, as in the case of Satanism, venerated as representing our sole known existence.
Crowley straddles somewhere between, and has a very interesting take on the symbolism of the pantacle in his BOOK 4:
"All Pantacles will contain the ultimate conceptions of the circle and the cross, though some will prefer to replace the cross by a point, or by a Tau, or by a triangle. The Vesica Pisces is sometimes used instead of the circle, or the circle may be glyphed as a serpent. Time and space and the idea of causality are sometimes represented; so also are the three stages in the history of philosophy, in which the three objects of study were successively Nature, God, and Man.
The duality of consciousness is also sometimes represented; and the Tree of Life itself may be figured therein, or the categories. An emblem of the Great Work should be added. But the Pantacle will be imperfect unless each idea is contrasted in a balanced manner with its opposite, and unless there is a necessary connection between each pair of ideas and every other pair."
It is interesting to note the mention of a glyphed serpent representing the circle. Many and far-flung cultures utilize the circle which is comprised of a serpent devouring its tail- to the point where it is an archetypal symbol in its own right. The Gnostic Ouroboros and the Scandinavian world-serpent number among interpretations which are found throughout Europe, Africa and North and South America. The Church of Satan's iconic Baphomet, which derives partly from the legend of the Knights Templar features a unique set of five Hebrew letters encircling the five-pointed star which translate to "Leviathan", the serpent of the watery abyss. It should be noted that the letters run counter clock-wise, the same direction which these serpent motifs typically seem to run, from tail to head.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Abbreviated Elemental Schema
Air Sword(Spade) Thinking Space
Water Cup(Heart) Intuition Time
Earth Disk(Coin)(Pantacle) Sensation Mass
Fire Wand(Staff)(Club) Feeling Energy
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Media Noise Solutions
A few years ago I became aware of the term "media noise", a term which immediately intrigued me, yet seemed to be the perfect, self-explanatory expression of extraneous information. I don't remember where I first heard it, but a quick Google search turned up very few relevant entries, mostly bandwidth solutions for sale. I continued to ponder the subject and its implications in the interim.
Just yesterday I was reading an old blog entry by Jason Miller, on his Take Back Your Mind blog, which focused on meditation being the single most important routine for most people, not to mention the single most powerful tool for magicians. It suddenly occurred to me that "media noise" is actually an age-old problem, or, rather, phenomenon.
Though the term is relatively modern, the idea of the individual feeling swamped by information is something that has plagued us since the dawn of time.
Everyone has to make decisions. What do we believe? Do we follow our parents' choice of cosomology? Do we fall into a vocation which seems to present itself, or do we pursue what we really desire, regardless of the degree of difficulty in attaining it? Can we find a middle ground? Do we continue our education? Do we listen to other people's advice when we are attracted to someone, or do we follow our instincts? Who can we trust?
These problems are as old as the poet Homer and far, far older. The only difference is now we are inundated with advertisements and (often unsolicited) opinions via the various media outlets we expose ourselves to. We have a deluge of information pouring at us. The majority of this information is irrelevant and distracting, so it is referred to as "noise", and we try to tune it out, while retaining the useful stuff. But the key to dealing with it, and being able to properly process the right information, lies within the understanding that we can shut it off. All of it, when it gets to be too much to sort out.
I recently lost internet and television connection in my home, in anticipation of a move. For a few weeks I took a further step and avoided looking at newspapers. It felt wonderful.
I'm still stressing over recent serious vehicle problems, where I'll be living, whether the commute will destroy my next vehicle, how I can increase my income in one area to compensate for a loss in another, etc., etc.
That's where meditation comes into play, as the solution in coping with what you can't unplug from until you die. Being able to quiet the mind helps our focus. Much the same as a cup of coffee in the morning, a meal, or a few extra hours of sleep for the sleep-deprived suddenly improve one's attitude and perspective. Problems are still there, life is still present, but we don't feel so overwhelmed.
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