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( http://www.luckymojo.com/altmagickfaq/ ) =========================================================================== To: alt.magick, alt.magick.ethics, alt.magick.folk, alt.magick.order, alt.magick.sex, alt.magick.tantra, alt.magick.tyagi, alt.pagan.magick, alt.answers and news.answers Subject: alt.magick FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Followup-To: alt.magick, alt.magick.tyagi Replaces: 9712 References: REF Master Summary: This is the hypertext edition of the alt.magick FAQ. The FAQ is intended as an introductory file and its content may be discussed within the alt.magick usenet newsgroup. Reply-to: tyaginator (nagasiva@luckymojo.com) Archive-name: magick/faq Updated: 9909 Posting-frequency: monthly or by inquiry CONTENTS
00 FOREWORD _______________________________________________________________ 10 NEWSGROUP 11 Why do you spell (alt.)magick with a K? 12 Shouldn't there be limits to what people can post here? _______________________________________________________________ 20 SUBJECT 21 What is magic(k)? 22 Is magick real, how does it work, what influences it? 23 Is magick black/white? Should we do black magick? 24 Is magick compatible with modern Science? 25 How are magick and religion/mysticism related or different? _______________________________________________________________ 30 STUDIES 31 How should I start learning about magick? teachers? 32 What are the best books for a beginner to read? 33 Where is online information about magick to be found? _______________________________________________________________ 40 SPELL COMPILATIONS 41 Love/Lust 42 Hexing/Cursing/Death 43 Summoning Demons and Infernal Pacts 44 Fortune and Money-Bringing Spells 45 Purification and Blessing _______________________________________________________________ 50 REFERENCES AND REFERRALS 51 Archives 52 Magick-Related Newsgroups 53 Card Game Magic (e.g. 'The Obsession') 54 Role-Playing Game Spellcasting _______________________________________________________________ 60 AFTERWORD 61 Footnotes 62 Credits 63 Copyrights ======================================================================= 00 FOREWORD The alt.magick FAQ may be obtained at: http://www.luckymojo.com/altmagickfaq ======================================================================= 10 NEWSGROUP This section pertains to the most commonly asked questions about the newsgroup itself; specifically the newsgroup's name and its customs. 11 Why do you spell (alt.)magick with a K? alt.magick was created with a 'k' to avoid confusion with stage magic. @01 'Magick' is a spelling popularly associated with Aleister Crowley, yet the spelling precedes him by hundreds of years. @02 Many people presume a difference between conjuring tricks and occult spells; between magic and magick. There may be grounds for comparing them metaphorically to chemistry and alchemy. Sr. Virakam and others maintain that it separated Crowley from his competitors (and thus served as a marketing or elitist scheme). @03 Symonds and Grant contend that the 'k' is a conceit of Crowley's and that it is related to potentially dangerous ("demonic and chaotic") energies, as well as life-oriented symbols such as 'khu' and 'kteis', for which they say it stands, "the complement to the wand (or phallus) which is used by the Magician in certain aspects of the Great Work." @04 12 Shouldn't there be limits to what people can post here? There has been movement, off and on over the years, to work toward some sort of moderated alt.magick.* forum, but this has never been successfully carried out. The newsgroup was created (alt.magick.moderated), but the contribution address has not consistently functioned for throughput. There are many subgroups of alt.magick to which specific types of discussion should be taken if you wish to cooperate with newsgroup regulars. Here are a few of the discussion- oriented newsgroups to get you started:
There is a comprehensive list of posting suggestions in the document called 'alt.magick RULES'. These are quotes from usenet authorities regarding posting content. In terms of limiting the *substance* or *topic*, some copyrighted files have been under intense heat from occult organizations to keep them from being posted to the newsgroup. There is often a great outcry anytime someone posts a ritual or suggestion which conflicts with the morality or maturity level of participants, yet as alt.magick is not moderated, complaints and savvy folks who know how to cancel posted messages will be able to keep a single post from being seen, discussion of it carrying over into one of the sub-forums at most. In short, there are no technical limitations, but there are some factions (participants, occult groups) who have a very sincere interest in affecting what is posted. ======================================================================= 20 SUBJECT There are a few questions about magic(k) which arise consistently. These concern an analysis of magick, its workings and principles, and its relationship to science, religion and morality. 21 What is magic(k)? Magick has been defined by many people in many different ways. One infamous mage defined it as "the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will." @05 Some see magick as a kind of energy which pervades the cosmos. Others see it as a psychic tool by which we may influence the material world using symbols and ritual. Many see it as a means of coming to unite with the divine, some consider it to be the exercise of will or Will, or the manipulation of reality. Whatever the word means, 'magick' is the subject, generally, of the newsgroup, and will likely be given many differing and contradictory meanings during discussions there. 22 Is magick real, how does it work, what influences it? Many have suggested the differentiation of magical 'currents' or 'energies' based on style and/or intent. Some posit the notion of principles, a la scientific structure, 'laws of magick' and whatnot. Others approach it more subjectively, considering all knowledge about the elements of magick to be personal and therefore particular only to the individual condition, variable of form. All of these are popular responses to this question, though more inventive theories would be welcomed. Conventional approaches may be cross-posted to sci.philosophy.meta. 23 Is magick black/white? Should we do black magick? For discussion about the ethics of magick, see alt.magick.ethics. 24 Is magick compatible with modern Science? An oft-asked question, particularly with reference to Heisenberg and chaos theory. Hang around a little before getting into one of these discussions. They can take quite a while to untangle. 25 How are magick and religion/mysticism related or different? There have been a number of different discussions on these subjects. The more popular hypotheses include the magick/individual:religion/group model, and the idea that religion is the devolution of magick. Some do not seem to discern between magick and mysticism at all, and many have never considered the subject, being unexposed to the latter. Thelemites might equate magick with will and mysticism with love, and the association has been made between mysticism and theurgy, magick and thaumaturgy. For more on mysticism, dare the MaGI's Gehennom GOO! ================================================================ 30 STUDIES How to learn about magick and what ought be considered the best sources are frequently discussed topics in the newsgroup. Occasionally someone will compile a REF file of newsgroup posts for a common topic. Make a collection of posts and assist in the project yourself by adding to them. 31 How should I start learning about magick? teachers? As CHenningsson writes: "Books are one answer. There are actually books which try to take you from your first tentative attempts at relaxation into holding a ritual.... "Other than that.... Just do it! If you like to, you can see this as one of the very first exercises in Will; you Will yourself into making a ritual." Some recommend the use of particular mechanisms or tools, such as tarot, a magical diary, meditation or dreamwork. Some recommend specific books or teachers, others place more emphasis on the aptitude and imagination of the student. Robin provides marvelous advice: "Resist the temptation to believe what anyone else tells you. Try to invent ways to find out things for yourself. Remain skeptical. "Look for ways in which you may have been doing magick without realizing it. Think about what it might mean if you could use it with intention, and how you might go about that." MKampe offers: "if you have clear notions of what magick is all about, it might be better for you to pursue your inner course and avoid outside contamination [from teachers/books/etc.]." There are REFerence files on such things as the Kabbalistic Abyss, Chaos Magick, Wicca, and the Golden Dawn. Teachers, masters and adepts are often a topic of discussion in the newsgroup, and magical organizations may wrangle out their political issues in alt.magick.order. I would echo Lilith Darkchilde: "Take heed of those who say that they can teach you all about what is magickal. Especially if you must join their 'coven' or group to do so.... "I hold the key to my own self knowing." 32 What are some books for a beginner? There's are a few booklists available as well as one list of book mailorder houses. 33 Where is online information about magick to be found? Try the MaGI. ================================================================ 40 SPELL COMPILATIONS Spell-exchange within the alt.magick.* hierarchy is at times discouraged by newsgroup regulars or newbies concerned with considerations of ethics or expertise. The only newsgroup apparently designated for such an exchange is alt.paranormal.spells.hexes.magic. The spells contained within the following compilation files may be dangerous to your health, but we welcome contributions to them and will be happy to source them properly so that those who taste of their repercussions can adequately compensate you. 41 Love/Lust The following REF file is a usenet collection and includes spells designed to secure the love and/or passionate embrace of your target. 42 Summoning Demons and Infernal Pacts Collected usenet posts about demon-summoning and infernal pacts may be found in this REF file. A separate file contains lists of demons from which you may choose. 43 Hexing/Cursing/Death Spells Jinxing and death-oriented spells were collected from alt.magick.* over the last few years and these have been placed in this REF file. 44 Fortune and Money-Bringing Spells Get over those money blues and seek your bounty. Here are some spells to obtain cash through skill or chance and achieve success in other ways, compiled from posts to usenet into a REF file. 45 Purification and Blessing This REF file contains spells designed to rid you of spiritual parasitism, bad luck, or that unwanted jinx. Use them to prepare for more powerful works of magick. ================================================================ 50 REFERENCES AND REFERRALS After consulting the various resources listed in this FAQ and lurking in the newsgroup for a few weeks, feel free to bring up any relevant subjects there. 51 Archives Usenet posts make up a part of the Lucky Mojo Esoteric Archive (which hosts this document). 52 Magick-Related Newsgroups See the MaGI for much occult-related information. Valuable usenet alternatives include: (occult-related) alt.astrology Ref: FAQ alt.astrology.asian alt.chinese.fengshui Ref: FAQ alt.divination alt.lucky.w Ref: FAQ alt.magick.chaos Ref: FAQ alt.magick.marketplace alt.occult.kabbalah.golden-dawn alt.pagan.magick alt.paranormal.spells.hexes.magic alt.tarot Ref: (Original alt.tarot FAQ) Ref: (Tarot and alt.tarot FAQ) Ref: Layouts (REF) (darkness and power) alt.necronomicon alt.satanism Ref: FAQ Ref: Another FAQ Ref: Another FAQ Ref: Another FAQ Ref: Another FAQ (eastern and mystical things) alt.consciousness.mysticism alt.meditation alt.meditation.moderated alt.philosophy.taoism alt.yoga (Moderated) (psychology and consciousness) alt.consciousness alt.drugs.leri alt.psychology.transpersonal rec.drugs.psychedelic sci.psychology.consciousness (shamanism/neopaganism/witchcraft) alt.folklore alt.folklore.gemstones alt.folklore.herbs alt.mythology alt.mythology.mythic-animals alt.native alt.pagan alt.religion.asatru Ref: FAQ alt.religion.orisha alt.religion.shamanism alt.religion.wicca Ref: FAQ alt.shamanism alt.techno-shamanism (ufos/parapsychology/spiritualism) alt.consciousness.near-death-exp alt.hypnosis alt.out-of-body alt.paranet alt.paranet.metaphysics alt.paranet.paranormal alt.paranet.psi alt.paranet.skeptic alt.paranormal alt.skeptic alt.soulmates 53 Card Game Magic (e.g. 'The Obsession') There are many newsgroups in the rec.games.trading-cards hierarchy from which to choose. Also see MOXPERL. 54 Role-Playing Game Spellcasting If you are looking for role-playing game magic, you can find it in the Great Net Spellbook. ================================================================ 60 AFTERWORD Thanks to all the fine authors of files I came across during my sift for networking documents to fill out this edition of the FAQ. May it remain unblemished by violence or imprisonment. 61 Footnotes @01 - See alt.magic (stage magic). @02 - Due to his many publications and the orders he crafted, Aleister Crowley is revered by many and despised by as many more, and his magical treatise ("Book Four", recently reissued assembled by Samuel Weiser) may likely prove his most popular text. @03 - "Aleister Crowley (if Soror Virakam may be relied upon) is said to have adopted "the old spelling of MAGICK... in order to distinguish the Science of the Magi from all its counterfeits." ("Magick", eds. Symonds/Grant, p. 45 note). @04 - "Magick", p. xvi. @05 - "Magick in Theory and Practice", by Aleister Crowley; p. 7. 62 Credits Those who assisted by reviewing the FAQ whose ideas and/or networking were utilized to good measure:
If you have suggestions for changes or additions to this document, send them to the Editor (nagasiva@luckymojo.com). ------------------------------------------------------------- Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem. -- W. Occam 63 Copyrights This document is Copyright (c) 1999, nagasiva@luckymojo.com. All rights reserved. Permission to distribute the collection is hereby granted providing that distribution is electronic, no money is involved, reasonable attempts are made to use the latest version and all credits and this copyright notice are maintained. Other requests for distribution should be directed to the Editor or to the individual authors of the quoted materials. ============================================================================= nagasiva@luckymojo.com (tyaginator) Editor, alt.magick FAQ FIN HTML 9907
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