THE |
|
a cache of usenet and other text files pertaining
to occult, mystical, and spiritual subjects. |
To: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.magick,alt.pagan.magick,alt.skeptic,alt.paranormal.spells.hexes.magic,sci.psychology From: nagasiva@luckymojo.com (nagasiva yronwode) Subject: Re: Mental Stability and The practice of Magick. Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 09:01:10 GMT 50000217 IVom LostSoul: > What is your opinion on this? .... I agree that those who are sufficiently willful and of a mind to construct spells or engage other types of magic tend to be potentially unstable (either as a result of or in association with the spellcrafting). their ability to comprehend and/or work within the paradigm necessary for magical activity will quite naturally overlap with the edges of society and with abrasive or challenging paradigms and personalities. > Should a person just be handed a spell eventhough we dont know how >mentally stable that person is? in a forum such as this, yes. it isn't our place to try to protect or coddle the newbie. we are better off just talking about, archiving, analyzing and evaluating the various types of spells (and theories surrounding its function) that are available. more than this and we waste everyone's time in hand-wringing and parenting. >Is it more self-destructive to practice magick under emotional >stress? this is an interesting question that I've rarely considered. generally I don't think so, but emotional stress is likely to lead to self-destructive activities (accidentally if nothing else), so perhaps it can't be helped. >What is the best mental and emotional preparation in doing >a magickal work to ensure proper working of both >ritual and the magickal goal? the question is somewhat ambiguous. the usual suggestions for magical preparation include things like "grounding and centering", purification, initiation, dedicated study with a reputable instructor, contextual coordination (temporal as well as spatial and symbolic), deep introspection and, at times, psychoanalysis (to ferret out potentially hidden psychological complexes so as not to surprise us at the exact wrong moment). in the fabrication of a rudimentary magical system for the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game (in reflection of real magical systems, natch), I constructed a guide for the interested magician with a concern about insanity in association with hir magical study and practice. here is the URL of the essay, entitled "_Kathulu Majik: Luvkrafting the Roles of Modern Uccultizm": http://www.luckymojo.com/avidyana/shaitan/l.kthlu.95 in a nutshell the mage must avoid extremity of either egotism or submission to the Herd. the ego-based studies and rites are likely to lead to an explosion, where Order-based and societally-submissive studies and rites are likely to lead to a disintegration. in either case "insanity" is the result (as a result of interactions with the beings or products of the Kreechurz or Kaoz or those of Ordur). where "sanity" is defined inside a societal assessment of predictability and conventionality, it quickly becomes a kind of assessment-based tool to control the individual. where it pertains to integrity, harmony with one's environment and world, and an ability to express genius, it will more often be overlooked, has the capacity to effect significant changes by virtue of remaining within its radius, and ought in the last analysis be associated with what is called "realization", "individuation" and "enlightenment". the best method to orient with respect to this latter type of "sanity" is to start off by practicing as plain a type of attention to one's present experience as one is able. the practical disciplines of meditation in a variety of mystical traditions are valuably used to hone this skill and expand a capacity for patience and open-mindedness simultaneously ("know thyself o mage"). complementing this is the exercise of expression which reflects internal experiences perhaps otherwise invisible to the student. artistry, whether verbal and empirical such as in a Magical Record, or in the construction of magical objects or ceremonials, can be an important outlet and mirror so as to inspire integration and self-understanding (sure-fire defenses against the disintegration of any magical exploits). some magicians will take this type of sanity to be their overall goal or objective (desiring an intensification of spiritual maturity as the goal of their magical acts). in the pursuit of this aim my suggestion is the identification and fruitful use, through whatever means possible, of the intuition. this may be relied upon as a kind of sail in stormy or stalled adventures. blessed beast! nagasiva
The Arcane Archive is copyright by the authors cited.
Send comments to the Arcane Archivist: tyaginator@arcane-archive.org. |
Did you like what you read here? Find it useful?
Then please click on the Paypal Secure Server logo and make a small donation to the site maintainer for the creation and upkeep of this site. |
The ARCANE ARCHIVE is a large domain,
organized into a number of sub-directories, each dealing with a different branch of religion, mysticism, occultism, or esoteric knowledge. Here are the major ARCANE ARCHIVE directories you can visit: |
|
interdisciplinary:
geometry, natural proportion, ratio, archaeoastronomy
mysticism: enlightenment, self-realization, trance, meditation, consciousness occultism: divination, hermeticism, amulets, sigils, magick, witchcraft, spells religion: buddhism, christianity, hinduism, islam, judaism, taoism, wicca, voodoo societies and fraternal orders: freemasonry, golden dawn, rosicrucians, etc. |
SEARCH THE ARCANE ARCHIVE
There are thousands of web pages at the ARCANE ARCHIVE. You can use ATOMZ.COM
to search for a single word (like witchcraft, hoodoo, pagan, or magic) or an
exact phrase (like Kwan Yin, golden ratio, or book of shadows):
OTHER ESOTERIC AND OCCULT SITES OF INTEREST
Southern
Spirits: 19th and 20th century accounts of hoodoo,
including slave narratives & interviews
|