Magick
1 - Why Magick?
Magick
2 - Subjective Experience
Magick
3 - The Four Worlds
Magick
4 - The Four Elements
Magick
5 - Chakras Meditation
Magick
6 - Thought Forms & Spirits
Magick
7 - Basic Ritual
Magick
8 - Healing & Banishing Rituals
Magick
9 - Astral Projection
Magick
10 - Cabala
Magick
11 - Psychic Energy
The ability to think seems to set us apart from other creatures.
And although we are concerned with living in the physical
world, we are mental beings. The fact is we are thinking all
the time. We plan, we brood, we get depressed or elated --
all of it is thought. But the universe is mental too, and
if we could control our thinking we would see magnificent
results in the everyday world.
Many systems have been developed
over the ages to help us control our thoughts. A great amount
of dogma too has been kicked around in an attempt to make
us into better people. Magick (the occult kind, spelled with
a 'k') is one of the oldest and most general of these systems.
Magick is the study and application of psychic forces. It
uses mental training, concentration, and a system of symbols
to program the mind. The purpose of magick is to alter the
self and the environment according to the will.
Most of the magick we see
today comes to us from ancient Egypt and Chaldea. The Chinese,
Hindus, and Tibetans developed their own unique types of magick.
Western magick was locked up by the Egyptian priests for thousands
of years and then supressed by the rise of Christianity. It
was not until medieval Europe that magical knowledge was rediscovered
by the alchemists and Cabalists. Only during the past hundred
years or so has western culture been open minded enough to
permit widespread investigation of the subject. Only since
the start of the twentieth century has science shown much
interest in it al all.
PARAPSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIC PHENOMENA
Through parapsychology, we are gaining insights into the hidden
nature of man. Parapsychology is a branch of psychology which
studies psychic phenomena. It remains something of a frontier,
even today. Perhaps one reason for this is that psychic phenomena
are somewhat inconsistent. Nevertheless, there is strong evidence
from numerous cases and experiments in support of psychic
phenomena. Somehow, under the right conditions, the mind can
directly affect the environment.
We may theorize that the
human mind and body broadcasts a kind of psychic energy or
force, much like a radio station. Kirlian photography, temperature
effects, cloud chamber tests, and other experiments tend to
support this theory. Although the exact nature of this psychic
force is subtle and unknown, it is undoubtedly the energy
behind all psychic phenomena and magick. However, it is *not*
a radio wave, since it behaves somewhat differently. The psychic
force is too weak to be measured directly (at least so far
as we know). Everyone has some psychic ability. There are
numerous types of psychic phenomena. Parapsychology separates
them into two groups: ESP and PK...
EXAMPLES OF ESP
ESP, the abreviation for extra sensory perception, means the
reception of information through paranormal means (ie. not
regular physical senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, or
taste). In theory, this is accomplished by receiving psychic
force from outside the body. Here are some examples of ESP:
1) Clairvoyance, or Remote
Viewing -- the ability to sense or 'see' (non-physically)
distant objects, places, and people.Individuals who see ghosts
and spirits are probably clairvoyant.
2) Clairaudience, or remote hearing -- the 'hearing' of paranormal
information.
3) Astral Projection (OOBE) or Traveling Clairvoyance -- Full
experience at a remote location while the physical body sleeps.
4) Psychometry -- the reading of information by the touch
of physical objects.
5) Telepathic receiver -- the ability to directly receive
thought (communication) at a distance, with no physical connection
to the sender. There are many everyday examples of this, in
which we think something just as anotherperson is about to
say it. This is an easy one to test for through experiment.
Very dramatic cases of telepathy have been recorded; there
is often an emotional element in such cases.
6) A 'channel' or medium, as in a seance, who is in direct
communication with a 'spirit' or entity.
7) Experience with a Ouija board, pendulum, or automatic writing.
8) Precognition -- to forsee the future. Again, highly emotional
events are the ones most likely to be 'tuned in'.
9) Retrocognition -- knowledge of the past, by paranormal
means.
EXAMPLES OF PK
PK, the abreviation for psychokinesis, is the active or sending
side of psychic phenomena. The theory here is that psychic
force is sent out from the individual. Examples of PK include:
1) Telepathic sender -- the
transmitter in the telepathy just discussed.
2) Psychokinesis (or telekinesis) proper -- the ability to
move objects by means of psychic force.
3) Somewhat along the same lines are poltergeist (noisy ghost)
phenomena in which objects move of their own accord or noises
are heard. There is always a human agent involved -- frequently
a teenage girl -- who appears to be the source of psychic
energy.
4) Psychic healing -- the ability to heal various illnesses
and infirmities. There are many documented cases of this.
Usually it involves a healer and a subject, although there
are recent cases invloving cancer patients learning to heal
themselves.
5) Teleportation, apportation, and levitation. Some occultists
feel a magician producing PK effects is simply a channel for
universal energy. Others think the force originates some way
directly within the magician.
THE SUBCONSCIOUS
Postulated by Freud and others, the concept of the subconscious
mind is an important one. Basicly, this is the idea that part
of the mind normally operates below or outside of ordinary
consciousness and awareness. Dreams and hypnosis are examples
of this. Also subconscious are the many automatic functions
of the physical body such as respiration and digestion.
WHY DO MAGICK?
Magick encompasses many things -- science and art, philosophy
and metaphysics, psychology and comparative religion. Magick
is an adventure at the borderlands of the unknown. It can
fit the pieces of the puzzel of life into a meaningful whole.
Magick is fun and interesting.
Use magick to help raise consciousness without drugs. Gain
new experiences. Fantacy can come alive through magick. Psychic
phenomena can be controlled and be fun and helpful.
Magick is beneficial. It
can help you to have excellent health, and bring you good
luck. With magick life runs smoothly; life is good. Also use
magick for personality improvement, to control bad habits
and to develop new motivations.
Magick is powerful. Never
underestimate the tremendous power of magick. Use magick to
alter events and to achieve your goals. Exert an influence
over people and phenomena. But power for its own sake is self
defeating. The power which magick can give you should not
be your primary reason for studying it.
MAGICK AND WITCHCRAFT
A number of other occult disciplines are prevalent today besides
magick. There are many cults and sects which profess their
own views, but there are really few differences between them.
One popular area in the occult today is witchcraft. This is
far removed from the cliche of devil worship. Real witchcraft
is a nature religion (pagan). Witchcraft has much in common
with magick.
Alchemy also has much in
common with magick. It's heritage comes from the middle ages.
Alchemy fathered chemistry and the physical sciences. But
the avowed purpose of alchemy, turning lead into gold, is
too limiting to be called magick. Sometimes the goal of alchemy
is interpreted in another way, as the transformation of man
into a spiritual being.
Then there are the numerous
modern day seers or 'pychics', as they like to be called,
who operate within their own somewhat unique systems. Although
many of these people are deluded frauds, some are very powerful
occultists indeed.
Of course, everything I have
said here is a generalization. Magick, witchcraft, alchemy,
or any occult field are complex subjects. Suffice it to say
that magick includes them all (it is eclectic). For magick
is undoubtedly a philosophy which has, as the late Aleister
Crowley wrote, "The method of science -- the aim of religion."
Authors Details: Phil Hansford, 4/88
Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem)
P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042 |
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