Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only. ---------------------------------------------------------- ** MAGICK 4 -- ELEMENTS AND FORCES ** The Ancientsdividedthe worldintofour basicprinciplesor *elements* -- earth, water, fire, and air. That viewpoint has mostly changed with advances of science, but the four elements are still accepted in magick, for they are more closely linked with emotions, the human psyche, and with nature than are modern explanations of the world. These *magical elements* are also of some importance in astrology. Many occultists think of the magical elements as forces, or as *qualities* of energy; especially within the astral world. Each element has a symbol and color. (Common symbols are -- fire: a triangle pointing up; air: a triangle pointing up and with a horizontal line through the middle of it; water: a triangle pointing down; earth: a triangle pointing down and with a horizontal line through the middle of it.) Colors of the elements are -- earth: brown and green; water: blue; fire: red; air: yellow...The Eastern tattvic system uses different 1301 symbols and colors. (The tattvic symbols are briefly described later on in this course.) The elements are often used in magick ritual. Magickseesrelationships betweenthings.Theserelationships are called 'correspondences'. Although magical correspondences are not literally equal to one another, you can think of them that way (such as gold equals sun). Tables of these relationships, called 'Corres- pondence Tables', are available (an important one is Crowley's '777'). Thus one thing or symbol can be used to suggest another. This is important in magick, for the magician may surround himself with as many appropriate correspondences as he can to vividly affect the senses; thus making his magical contact with the inner planes more lucid. 1302 Themagicalelementshavecorrespondenceswiththetarotcards as the four suits. The four quarters (directions of the universe as used in magick ritual) and the Archangels also correspond with these same elements -- Element Suit Quarter Archangel ======= ==== ======= ========= earth pentacles north Uriel water cups west Gabriel fire wands south Michael air swords east Raphael Astrologicalsignsalsocorrespondwiththeelements.Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are earth signs. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are water signs. Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are fire signs. Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are air signs. ELEMENTALS The magicalelements are saidto bepeopled by spiritsand mythological entities called elementals or nature spirits. These are grouped into four main categories -- 1303 Gnome (earth) Undine (water) Salamander (fire) Sylph (air) ============= ============== ================= =========== dwarfs nymphs jin (genies) fairies elves tritons storm angels brownies mermaids hobgoblins mermen lepricauns sirens harpies Elementalsareusuallyonlyvisible tothosewithclairvoyant sight and are more likely to be seen at night in the mountains or country away from cities -- especially if you are tired or sleepy. Although elementals exist naturally, it is also possible to create one which will exist for a limited time -- no elemental has immortality. A created elemental is called an 'artificial elemental'. 1304 TotheAncients, elementalswerethephysical explanationof the universe. However, some contemporary occultists see them only as symbols for forces and otherwise not 'real' at all. Another word sometimes used for elemental is 'familiar' (usually in medieval witchcraft); the term is ambiguous, as it might merely be an ordinary household pet such as a dog or cat. YIN YANG Chinesephilosophyandacupuncture talkofyin yang.This is the idea of polarity, or opposite pairs, as shown -- YIN YANG === ==== water fire contraction expansion cold hot feminine masculine moon sun negative positive passive active ebb flow 1305 wane wax The list could go on. In Chinese literature it is quite long. Some occultists suggest everything can be similarly arranged into related opposite pairs. 1306 SIMPLE MAGICK Hereis asimple magicaltechniqueyou maywish totry. Itis a variation of affirmation, which was discussed in an earlier les- son...To help you to achieve your goal (magical or otherwise), find a word or short phase which sums up what it is that you want to accom- plish. Write the word (or phrase) down 10 times each day until you achieve success. REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) List the four elements. 2) What is an elemental? 3) What are correspondences? BOOK LIST William Britten, Art Magic (long out of print, but in some libraries). Pete Carrol, Liber Null. Wing-Tsit Chan, A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy. Manly Hall, Unseen Forces. 1307 ======== Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem) P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042 1308 Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only. ---------------------------------------------------------- ** MAGICK 5 -- CHAKRAS AND MEDITATION ** AccordingtoEastIndianphilosophy,manpossessessevenmajor *chakras* or psychic centers on his body. Each of these forms a bridge, link, or energy transformer; changing pure (higher) energy into various forms, and connecting the four bodies (ie. spiritual, mental, astral, and physical) together. The chakras are located along the nadies (a network of psychic nerves or channels) and follow the autonomic nervous system along the spinal cord. Chakras correlate with major acupuncture points along the 'governing vessel meridian' (acupuncture term). The seven major chakras are connected together by three major nadies which are parallel and near each other. The middle nadi is called *sushumna* and it has neutral characteristics. The nadi on the left (ie. nearest your left hand) is the *ida* nadi which has yin characteristics. On the other side of sushumna (nearest your right hand) is the *pingala* nadi, having yang qualit- ies. 1309 Chakrasarevisible toclairvoyantsightas varouslycolored rotating circles or funnels. In the East they are described as petaled flowers or lotuses. Sources disagree on the colors. The first chakra,located at thebase of the spineat the perineum is the *root chakra*, muladhara. It primarily relates to the element of earth and to psychic smell. Thesecondchakra,knownasthe*sacralcenter*,svadhisthana, is located above and behind the genitals. Its dominant element is water, and it is related to psychic taste. Thirdof thechakrasisthe*solar plexus*,manipura,located at the navel and corresponding with the emotions and with the element of fire; also with psychic sight (clairvoyance). The*heart chakra*,anahata, isthe fourthchakra, located over the heart and corresponding with the element of air, and also with psychic touch. Thefifthchakraisthe*throat chakra*,vishuddha,locatedat the base of the throat (thyroid) and corresponding with psychic hearing (clairaudience). 1310 The remainingtwo chakrasare very important.They relate mostly to elevated states of consciousness. The *frontal chakra*, (or 'third eye') ajna, the sixth chakra, is located between, and slightly above, the eyebrows. Ajna is the center of psychic powers and can produce many psychic effects. Meditation on ajna is said to cure nervousness. Finally,the*crownchakra*,sahasrara,locatedatopthehead, (pineal gland) is the seventh chakra. It is referred to as the thous- and-petaled lotus and corresponds with astral projection and enlight- enment. Thereare alsomany minorchakras throughoutthebody. Each chakra has a sound (letter) and a pitch which is sometimes used to invoke it. THE TATTVAS Someoccultists preferto describethe magicalelements as tattvas according to the Eastern system. Notice that these symbols and 1311 colors are generally different than the western symbols and colors for the elements. element tattva tattvic symbol ======= ====== ============== earth prithivi yellow square water apas silver crescent fire tejas red triangle air vayu blue circle (spirit) akasa black oval 1312 YOGA Yoga originated inIndia. It is aphysical or mentaldis- cipline designed to condition and invigorate the mind and body. There are many kinds of yoga, but they may be generally divided into three main types... Hathayoga--affect themindthrough thebodyusing physical exercises; improve physical health and endurance. Rajayoga-- affectthemindthrough mentaltraining;improve concentration. Mantrayoga --affect themind throughchanting andaffirm- ation; achieve relaxation. MEDITATION This is a much touted areaof the occult. There aremany meditation techniques, and many claims made for the benefits of meditation. Basicly, meditation has two functions -- relaxation, and perhaps, improved concentration. There are two main types... 1) concentration meditation (focusing), 2) insight meditation (mindfullness). 1313 Most kinds of meditation are the concentrative type. One simply focuses his attention upon a single physical object (such as a candle flame); upon a sensation (such as that felt while walking or breath- ing); upon an emotion (such as reverence or love); upon a mantra spoken aloud or even silently; or upon a visualization (as in chakra meditation, seebelow)...Concentration meditation is, simply put, a form of self-hypnosis. Amantra(or mantrum)is oneormore wordsorsyllables which are repeated -- often chanted -- aloud...A simple yet powerful mantra is to vibrate the mystical word 'OM'. This mantra has long been associated in India with the godhead/unity. Use it to aid in tuning into universal vibrations which promote feelings of harmony, peace, and well-being. Use it before magick ritual to 'get into the mood' and afterward to 'dismiss the forces'. You vibrate a mantra by saying it slowly aloud in a lower-- pitched voice than your normal speech, and a more or less constant pitch as well. Let the sound fade at the end of the mantra. A powerful one such as 'OM' will seem to vibrate the air around you. It should be vocalized for 5-10 seconds and repeated a number of times with a few seconds rest between each vocalization. Chanting of mantras may cause slight dizziness from hyperventilation. 1314 Theothermaintype ofmeditaiton-- insightmeditation-- is the analysis of thoughts and feelings in such a way as to cause realization of the subjectivity and illusion of experience. This is done in a effort to attain trancendental awareness. Such statements as, 'This body is not me', fall under this category. Buddhist medit- ations are usually of this type. CHAKRA MEDITATION Thereis aspecialtype ofconcentrativemeditation whichwe will call 'Chakra meditation'. This is basicly Kundalini yoga -- the practice of causing psychic energy (kundalini) to flow up sushumna, energizing the various chakras along the way. The practice, considered dangerous by some, will produce deffinite physiological sensations and psycholog- ical effects if continued long enough. It should not be attempted by epileptics or persons with an unstable mental or physical condition, or with heart disease. Certain drugs and medications, such as those used to treat epilepsy may retard progress. Although the technique is very simple, it may eventually produce powerful results. Results may at first appear hours after the practice during sleep. As each chakra is energized by this practice, it is said to add occult powers (si- dhis), until at last the crown chakra is reached, and with it, full enlightenment is attained. Sometimes kundalini awakens all by itself. 1315 Topracticethischakrameditation, yousimplyconcentrateon the chakras, beginning with the root chakra, and moving progressively up, as you visualize psychic energy from the root chakra traveling up shushumna and vivifying each higher chakra. As we mentioned the chakras have certain properties associated with them, so that this type of visualization may 'raise consciousness', promote astral projection, and other things -- once you have reached ajna and eventually the crown chakra. You might typically meditate in this fashion for 15 minutes to a half hour a day. It might help to practice some hatha yoga or other physical exercise in an effort to make the spinal cord 'more flexible'. Diet may also affect the process. The technique is also similar to the Tibetan 'Tummo' meditation. The rise of kundalini is sometimes experienced as a 'vibration' or buzzing, as light, or as heat. 1316 HEALTH AND DIET Certainly theway you treatyour physicalbody willaffect your mind. In magick you want an alert mind. Therefore, your body must be as healthy as you can keep it. Take care of your body. Exercise regularly. eat a good diet (with vitamin supplements), and do not consume anything which will have a negative effect upon the mind. Drugs, smoking,, and alcohol should be restricted, or eliminated. (The mind can create any condit- ion which a drug can create.) A good rule here is moderation in what and how much you consume. (Most of this stuff is pretty obvious isn't it.) You may also want to cut down on sugar and processed foods. Many occultists advise dietary changes, expecially the non-eating of meat. We cannot deny the physical, psychological, and spiritual effect which all foods have. This effect may be described as the 'heaviness' factor of foods. Various foods are so ranked in the chart, lighter to heavier... 1. lettuce and other greens. 2. fruits and most vegetables. 3. wheat, rice, and other grains. 4. nuts, beans, and other legumes. 5. cheese, dairy products, including eggs. 1317 6. fish, seafood. 7. chicken, poultry. 8. beef, pork, other red meats. Note that meats, especially red meats are the 'heaviest' foods. Generally, foods which are harder to digest, or which are higher in protein are 'heavier' than those which are not. Animal products are heavier than plants. Foods high in carbohydrate (candy, bread, starch) are heavy. However, the 'heaviness' of foods is not directly related to the amount of calories. 1318 Whatthismeansis thatforvarious reasons,theheaviness of food in your diet will affect your magical experiences. You may be able to increase your psychic receptivity ('energy level') by eating lighter foods, or by eating less. Conversely, emphasizing heavy foods in your diet, or eating larger helpings, may help to 'bring you down to earth' should you 'rent the veil' too much. These are generalizat- ions, of course, and it may take a number of days of dietary change before you notice much effect. I do not advocate radical dietary changes, excessive fasting, or malnutrition. Your good health is far more important in magick than any temporary effect you get from prolonged starvation. A change in diet will sometimes only produce a temporary effect, until the physical body adapts to the change. Healthy natural foods and lifestyle make it easier for us to be healthy, but ultimately, good health is a mentual quality (at- titude). THE FOUR-FOLD BREATH With physicalexercise too, moderation isadvised. (You should be cautious, or not attempt it if you have a respiratory or heart condition. Check with your physician if in doubt, and don't overdo.) One of the most useful physical exercises is pranayama, or controlled breathing (actually a type of hatha yoga exercise). For 1319 this and any other calesthentics or hatha yoga which you might choose to do a 'kitchen timer' is suggested (many of these aren't accurate for under three minutes, but are helpful for longer periods). 1320 Themain purposeofpranayama isto relaxthe bodyand mind. There are many kinds of pranayama, but a simple one called the 'four-- fold breath' will suffice. This consists of four short quick inhall- ations, then four short quick exhallations; then repeat, continuing until the allotted time is used up. It will take about 1 1/2 seconds for the four inhallations, and about 1 1/2 seconds for the four exhallations; or about 3 seconds for the complete in-out cycle ('rep' for repetition). There should be no strain of any kind during your pranayama. You will probably notice a slight dizziness, particularly at first, since the effect of pranayama is to hyperventilate. Try sitting back in a chair with your eyes closed when you do your prana- yama. Begin a minute a day for the first week and gradually increase up to about five minutes a day. If you do the pranayama befor your magical activity, it will help you to get 'into the mood'. It is also an excellent aid to relaxation and tension release. Pranayama should not be done during heavy air pollution. Other exercises you might consider are hatha yoga, calesthentics, walking or jogging. REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) What is a chakra? List them. 2) Name the three major nadies. Which nadi is hot? 3) What is pranayama? 1321 BOOK LIST Arthur Diekman, The Observing Self. W.Y. Evans-Wentz, Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines. Sandra Gibson, Beyond the Mind. King and Skinner, Techniques of High Magic. Swami Sivananda, Kundalini Yoga. John Woodroffe (pseud. for Arthur Avalon), The Serpent Power. ======== Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem) P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042 1322 Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only. ---------------------------------------------------------- ** MAGICK 6 -- THOUGHTFORMS AND SPIRITS ** Although there are hundredsof kinds of divination, the principle ones are astrology, geomancy, the tarot, the I Ching, and direct psychic means (especially clairvoyance). True divination is more than a mechanical system, for it implies true psychic interp- retation (receiving). Some form of divination is often used in magick ritual to communicate with the entity invoked. Sincedivination operatesthroughthemind,itisaffectedand biased by the mind. Our attitudes and fears may alter it. Sometimes results are very detailed, and accurate -- but not always. Often the future is plastic and changeable anyway, and the use of magick may alter the result. Thus divination shows tendencies only, which may be helpful, but must not rule us. DEVELOPING CLAIRVOYANCE 1323 It ispossible toimprove yournatural abilitywith clair- voyance through practice. A good start might be to look around you, then close your eyes and try to picture your surroundings. This is also good exercise for visualization. And visualization is an essen- tial talent in magick. Open your eyes again and check your accuracy. Then close your eyes and try it again. When you use your physical eyes, look at everything like a child seeing it for the first time. Let the vividness of color and form burn into you, until everything takes on a veritable glow. Try to capture that glow when you close your eyes now and picture your surroundings. It's just a simple step to extend what you see with your eyes closed into what you remember seeing in the next room, or what you *imagine* seeing in the next building, the next city, even the other side of the world. Don't expect perfect results, especially at first. Just try to be even partly right. Another exercise is to picture a clock face, and thereby tell the time clairvoyantly. 1324 THE AURA Underthe rightconditions,it ispossible toclairvoyantly observe a colored light around other people. This is known as the 'aura'. Sometimes the aura is seen as multi-colored emanations around the person, built up of various differently colored layers and zones. Although many occult dabblers claim to be able to see the aura easily and under many varied conditions, I seriously doubt that they do. There are optical illusions and qualities of sight which can sometimes trick one into thinking he sees what he does not see. In this area, the quality of sight known as after image is especially pertinent. Do this: stare at any solidly colored bright object for a few moments. Very intense red, green, or blue are especially good for this. Now look away at a white surface and you will see a phantom image of the object in its comp- lementary color (a red object will show green, a blue one orange, etc.). If the bright object is in front of a light surface, you may observe a fringe of complementary color around the object after a few moments. This is all very normal, and is used by some magical groups as an aid to visualization sometimes called 'flashing colors'. Some silly people will stare at other people in the same way. And when they see the after image of the person's clothing, they think they are seeing his aura. What is more, various 1325 meanings have been attributed to the colors of the aura. A psychic who can see the aura is supposed to be able to determine that persons emotional state. Thus psychic frauds can have a marvelous time with auras. One deluded psychic taught a class I attended in which he performed instant psychoanalysis on the basis of the supposed aura. It was obvious that he was actually observing after images from the students clothes! Thisbrings usto thechart ofaura colorson thenext page. It is a general guide, based mostly on Theosophical material. Various groups may attribute different meanings to the colors. The colors we show on the chart are emotional in nature; useful if you plan to create an artificial elemental or do healing. Surrounding yourself with a particular color will tend to produce the specific psycho- logical effect described in the chart. That quality of color is useful in magick ritual. 1326 COLORS OF THE AURA BLACK malice dark gray depression pale gray fear BROWN materialism muddy gray selfishness or dull rust RED energy bright red anger and force dirty red passion and sensuality dull red selfish love rose unselfish love ORANGE pride orange cloud irritability bright orange noble indignation YELLOW intellect yellow-green low intellect earthy yellow selfish thought 1327 lemmon high intellect bright gold logical thinking brt. red-yel. spiritual thought GREEN empathy gray-green deceit, jealously greenish-brown jealousy emerald green unselfish resourcefulness foliage green sympathy & empathy brt. apple-grn strong vitality brt. turquoise deep sympathy & compassion BLUE devotion (religious feeling) gray-blue fetishism light blue noble spiritual devotion dark blue religious feeling brt. lilac-blu lofty religious idealism VIOLET spiritual psychic & spiritual faculty WHITE purity/protection 1328 THOUGHTFORMS AND SPIRITS Whenever we concentrate our thoughts, we draw psychic energy together. This is called a thoughtform. Usually the energy dis- sipates as soon as we break the concentration, but it is possible to purposely concentrate energy in this way, producing very strong thoughtforms. Such thoughtforms are vortexes or centers of psychic energy. They can exist as entities by themselves, at least for a while. They are basically inanimate, non-thinking forces. Talking to one is about as logical as talking to a chair. In this way, thoughtforms are similar to elementals, ghosts, and spirits. All of these psychic entities consist of a psychic energy vortex which could be described as a localized field or as a discontinuity of the physical world. Psychic entities respond to certain electrostatic and magnetic fields, and to other energy vortexes. That is why they respond to magick ritual. Someday, we may accomplish the same thing with elect- ronic machines. Psychic entities are sometimes able to affect our thought processes. Thoughtforms, elementals, and ghosts are usually not very smart. If they display any intelligence at all, it is limited. They are the morons of the spirit world. Their behavior is usually automatic, 1329 repetitive, robot-like (just like some people). We see that artif- icial elementals are little more than astral robots. Spirits and deities are more intelligent and volitional. DIRECTED ATTENTION Your mind follows your attention. Wherever you direct your attention, there will your thoughts go too. By directing attention to a specific place or purpose you *focus* mental energy upon it. For example: you're having lunch in a cafeteria crowded with people. It is a large place, and everyone there is talking at once, so that the room is a constant jumble of noise. You happen to notice a man accross the room; he reminds you of someone. All at once he drops his fork and you hear it hit the table. But would you have noticed the sound of his fork if you had not been looking? No. Only by focusing your attention there were you able to pick out that individual event and associated sound. 1330 It is a dark night. You are walking and the only light you have is from the flashlight you hold in your hand. As you move the flash- light around, the beam of light from it directs your attention first one way then another. Now, the mind is something like that flashlight in the dark. And by directed attention, you point the mind to one place or another. As with that flashlight beam, you see where the mind is pointed; nothing more. The rest is 'noise'. And so we could define mental noise as anything not focused upon. In another way, noise could be considered as negative emotions, attitudes, and thoughts which make it more difficult to direct the attention. Your emotions follow your thoughts quite easily. Your emotions are not YOU, but are rather reactions prompted by your model and ego -- like a performance or an act, while the real you watches. In a similar way, directing your attention toward a specific emotion will cause you to experience that emotion. VISUALIZATION EXERCISES Visualimagination andconcentration areveryimportant in magick. Here are some exercises to help in your development... 1331 A. Close youreyes and visualize asingle digit numberas clearly as you can. Then a two digit number, then a 3 digit one. Hold the visualization in front of your 'inner eye' for about two minutes. Repeat with a letter or a word. B.Visualize abrightlycolored greencircle orspot. Again hold the visualization for two minutes. Try again with a different color. C.Visualizein succession,eachone ofthetattvic symbols, in their proper color. Hold each symbol for at least two minutes. D.Look through atarrot card deckand pickout several of your favorite cards. Then, after briefly studying a card, visualize it vividly in detail. Hold the visualization for at least two minutes. Do this for each card you selected. E. Repeat the above visualization exercises with your eyes open. 1332 REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) What is the aura? 2) What is a thoughtform? 3) How can you develope clairvoyance? BOOK LIST Annie Bessant and Charles Leadbeater, Thought Forms. W.E. Butler, How to Develop Clairvoyance. J.H. Brennan, Astral Doorways. Piero Ferrucci, What We May Be. Kilner, The Human Aura. Swami Panchadasi, The Human Aura. A.E. Powell, The Etheric Double. Harold Sherman, How to Make ESP Work for You. ======== Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem) P.O. Box 83 1333 Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only. ---------------------------------------------------------- ** MAGICK 7 -- BASIC RITUAL ** 'The first part of every ceremony is the banishing; the second the invoking.' (--Crowley, Magick, p. 104) Itmay besaid that ritualis thevery heartof magick. For it is through ritual that we achieve our magical results. Ritual is a magical procedure or ceremony we perform in order to change the environment. Usually we think of ritual as bearing on active magick, although certainly, it can also affect passive magick. Most often the change achieved is subjective (it may be subtle) and in the physical world. Outsiders may put them down to coincidence, but the effects are very real. Magical goals for a ritual should not be taken lightly. Thesuccessfulpracticeofmagick dependsuponstrongbelief. The simplest ritual of them all must be belief itself. If you can believe in your desired results strongly enough, that act is a magical ritual which will achieve your results. Even a very complex ritual is 1334 no more effective than strong belief. There are aids to concentration which may help. Thus in *creative visualization*, imagination and controlled breathing are brought into play. 1335 CREATIVE VISUALIZATION Whenyouwanttomagicallyachievesomething,first pictureit clearly in your mind. The more deffinite and specific your idea of what it is the better. Picture yourself having it or doing it. Vis- ualize it as vividly and as intensely as you can and hold it in your thoughts for a few moments. Concentrate on it intensely (it may help to hold your breath- ). Feel the energy of desire welling up inside you. Then suddenly feel the image or desire released from your mind. Feel the energy filtering through the image and intensifying it, as if the image is a 'stencil'. Imagine the energy exploding out from you into the macrocosm in all directions at once, and feel the universe 'tilt' as it reacts to the force. (At the same time it may help to release your breath suddenly). Feel the energy draining from you. Finally, *believe* that your purpose *has* been accomplished; that it HAS HAPPENED, perhaps saying something such as "so mote it be", or "it is done". THE BASIC PARTS OF A RITUAL 1336 Often ritualsare more formalthan theabove, but anyfull magick ritual must always reduce to these stages -- 1) imaging; 2) building; 3) firing. Sometimes a ritual must be repeated every day for a while to achieve difficult results or to overcome weak belief. 1337 THE MAGICK CIRCLE Often animportantpartofformal ritualisthemagickcircle. Medieval magicians considered the circle essential, and placed great emphasis upon its exactness. Elaborate designs were invented with many layers of complex symbols and words. It was very important that the circle be completely intact with no breaks in it. The magician and any other participants stand in the circle during ritual. The ritual began with a banishing of evil forces (using the lesser ritual of the pentagram for example) to keep them outside the circle. Today, circles are made on the floor with chalk or paint, rock salt, or a rope. Whatever its form, the circle is still an important part of magical protection for the magician. This is especially important for aversive entities and purposes. The circle also helps in focusing the energy of the ritual toward its purpose, that is, it keeps it contained until the magician is ready to release it. Of course, the magick circle is basicly only a symbol, but it may eventually be possible to supplement the circle with electronic equipment for a similar purpose. We are researching the practicality of electro- staticly charged Faraday shields. ARTIFICIAL ELEMENTALS 1338 An artificial elemental isuseful for certain tasks: 1) invisible watcher and observer, telling you what it sees; 2) psychic guard; 3) it can be used in healing; 4) it is helpful in other ways. Ophiel calls the artificial elemental a 'familiar'. Producing your own artificial elemental is fairly easy. YOU MUST ASSUME THAT THE ACT HAS PRODUCED RESULTS, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT IMMEDIATELY OBSERVE THEM. It is entirely possible to produce one of these little beasties and not know it (not being clairvoyant enough to observe it directly). Therefore, and this is a general principle of any magick, never ignore forces you have set into motion. Even though you may not see the elemental, you may nevertheless 'feel' it. WARNING-- Donot useartificial elementalsfor anykind of aversive magick at this point; they can be nasty little critters to get rid of. Should you have to eliminate one of them which you created in error, you must re-absorb it back into yourself through your will; or in some cases you can 'exorcise' it. HOW TO CREATE AN ARTIFICIAL ELEMENTAL You cancreate your own artificialelemental for various purposes. An artificial elemental is basically a thoughtform which has been strengthened with emotion. Refer to the aura color chart in the 1339 previous lesson and decide what color to make the elemental, based upon your intended purpose. Apple green is a good choice for general purposes. Then decide on a shape or outline. Do you want your elemental to resemble some sort of animal? A simple circle or cloud is a good place to start. With this in mind you can use ritual to create your elemen- tal. Creative visualization is good for this. Visualize it glowing before you. A darkened room is helpful for this. Communicatewithyourelementalwith telepathy,bytalkingto it, or with creative visualization. Your artificial elemental is closely linked to you and your subconscious attitudes. It will generally not do things you think it cannot do. As in any magick, results relate to effort and belief. Another way of looking at an artificial elemental is as an aspect of your personality (sub person- ality) which has been detached from you. INVOCATION Formalritual usually involves the invocation (ritually calling up) of a god or goddess, spirit, or other entity. In this sense, magick is somewhat similar to pagan religion and witchcraft. However, we consider magick ritual a technique, not a religion. Worship need not be involved. 1340 Sometimes the invocation of an entity creates an artificial elemental. Crowley says there are three different kinds of invocation -- 1) Devotion to the entity (as in the Bhakti yoga of the Hare Krishna sect; the Faustian devil pact). 2) Ceremonial invocation -- usual method of the middle ages. 3) Drama -- usually needs more than one person (as in a mass). 1341 Becauseof themicrocosm-macrocosmidentity,whenyouinvoke the gods, you are invoking aspects of yourself. Jung has referred to the gods as primitive archetypes. This makes it sound like spiritual entities are illusions. But in fact the microcosm-macrocosm identity does not discredit the gods and goddesses. It instead helps to il- lustrate our relationship to the cosmos. >>CAUTIONS<< 1.Balanceis importantinmagick. Varytheentities invoked in order to keep your personality in balance. 2. Oftenas nota ritualmay produce side-effects,usually something similar to, though not exactly the desired goal. If the true goal is delayed (as sometimes happens) we may see the side effects first. And if for some reason the goal is not achieved at all ('mi- ssing the target') the side effects may be pronounced. Examples: 1) You use magick ritual to hurry shipment of an anticipated package in the mail. Side effect -- the next day an unexpected package (the wrong one) arrives instead. 2) You use magick ritual to cause a certain person to phone you. Side effect -- for several days all sorts of people phone you...The sides effects will not affect you (or anyone else) adversely unless that is what you inwardly want. 1342 3.We maysaywith certaintythat"something alwayshappens" when we perform a magick ritual. But like everything else, magick follows the 'law of results'. This means that results require effort of some kind. And if you don't work hard enough at it you don't get results. Difficult goals have greater resistance (magical inertia) to overcome. If the ritual doesn't produce the desired results there is a good chance that the reason for the failure is within oursleves. Be certain there is no contradiction between your model and your magical goals. Sometimes self doubt and mental contradictions (wanting and not wanting at the same time) may inter- fere. The first step in magick is to re-program your model. And, of course you can help your magical results by working on the physical level toward your goals. Don't expect them to fall into your lap by themselves. 1343 4)A peculiarqualityofmagickis timedisplacement.Results of a ritual are not usually instantaneous. There is often a delay of 12 hours or more. Difficult tasks or weakly performed ritual are more likely to be delayed. In most cases a slight delay is alright, and it gives us time to get used to the comming changes. And sometimes the effects of a ritual appear to extend to before the ritual was performed! 5)Because of theway magick works,a ritualmay create an emphasis in what is sought, and a de-emphasis in everything else. Balance is therefore important here. Once the magical result is achieved it may be 'bound' to you and difficult to get rid of should you later decide to do so. Example: You use a magick ritual to help you find and buy a new house. Years later when you decide to sell it, you are unable to do so. Consider your magical goals wisely so you dont get stuck with som- ething you don't really want. Note that theory says you can always unbind through ritual what was bound to you...theory says. 6) Sometimesthe environmentappears to reactagainst the magick after the results are achieved. This is particularly noticeable in using magick to affect the weather (and the main reason why you 1344 should NOT use magick to affect the weather). For example...Your performance of a ritual to produce a sunny day produces a sunny day. The next day is sunny, alright, but the rest of the month is cold and overcast. Here the weather seems to react to the magick in the op- posite way to re-establish its natural balance. It is something like pushing a pendulum to one side and releasing it -- the pendulum swings to the other side. To quote Emmerson -- "For everything you gain you lose something...". I don't know that this is always true in magick, but it does illustrate the point. And another reason not to use magick to affect the weather is that it might foul it up in other parts of the country (world??). 7) Finally,magickritual(orany magickoroccultism)isvery dangerous for the mentally unstable. If you should somehow 'get out too far', eat 'heavy foods' as previously discussed (lesson on chak- ras) and use your religious background or old belief system for support. But remember too, that wierd experiences are not necessarily bad experiences. 1345 REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) What is creative visualization? 2) List the basic parts of a ritual. 3) What is invocation? RESEARCH TOPICS (for independent study) 1) Examine the differences between western magick and oriental magick. 2) How do medieval grimoirs follow the basic ritual pattern? 3) Research and design your own formal ritual. BOOK LIST P.E.I. Bonewitz, Real Magic. David Conway, Magic: an Occult Primer (or Ritual Magic). Aleister Crowley, Magick in Theory and Practice. Denning and Phillips, Creative Visualization. Ophiel, Creative Visualization. A.E. Powell, The Astral Body. ________, The Mental Body. Joseph Weed, Wisdom of the Ancient Masters. 1346 Julian Wilde, Grimoire of Chaos Magick. ======== Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem) P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042 1347 Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only. ---------------------------------------------------------- ** MAGICK 8 -- HEALING AND BANISHING ** Psychic or spiritual healingis a human potentialwe all possess. Some people are especially good at this. It is probably easier to heal someone else by occult means than yourself. In addition to healing in the presence of the person, there is 'absent healing' in which the healing occurs at a distance. Note that there are some who maintain that influence on another person without his specific knowledge and permis- sion (yes, even in healing and helping) is black magick. (After all, everybody is living according to his own true will, so that healing or helping someone without permission is affecting his will). This means it is important to tell the person what you are planning to do and to ask his permission. The theory of psychic healing is that sickness is characterized (although not necessarily caused) by a deficiency and imbalance of vital energy. Psychic healing transfers energy from the healer to the sick to repair and rebalance his energies. If an inept healer overdoes the process, or if he doesn't take the precaution to 'disconnect' himself afterwards, he may find himself 1348 becoming sick due to energy drain and a linkage to his subject. Similarly, the healer should always be in a good state of health or he could unintentionally transfer his illness to the subject. 1349 Thebasicmethods ofpsychichealingare: 1)creativevisual- ization, 2) prayer, 3) ritual. Creative visualization is one of the easiest techniques. Mild illness may yield to only one or two treat- ments; serious ills will require many treatments over time. Psychic healing should always be combined with medical care and treatment. It does not replace doctors, medicine, or hospitals, since different levels (worlds) are involved. In creative visualization, we visualize the person being well. It may be helpful to utilize the appropriate color from the aura chart (such as bright apple-green, rose pink, or white) sent as a beam to the person or as a cloud surrounding him. This technique can be extended to include a simple kind of yoga in which we feel energy sent as we exhale explosively; the energy sent either via the breath or from one of the chakras such as the solar plexus. Sometimes in absent healing it is helpful to arrange a time for treatment in advance, asking your subject to be in a receptive state of mind and to sit back and close his eyes. THE BANISHING RITUAL Oneofthemost basicanduseful ceremonialritualsof magick is called the *banishing ritual*, or lesser ritual of the pentagram. A pentagram (or pentacle) is a five-pointed star with the point up. The 1350 banishing ritual is helpful in psychic protection and healing since it forms a protective barrier against malevolent forces. The psychic barrier it creates can be made to permit entry of desired (const- ructive) forces and the exclusion of negative ones. Thus, the banish- ing ritual is an essential first step in almost any formal full magick ceremony. The ritual requires that you use a magical implement or "weapon", such as a ceremonial knife, wand, or simply point your index finger, to "draw" the pentagram in the air at each of the cardinal points (four direc- tions). Also, you will be chanting ('vibrating') some Hebrew names of God. 1351 Holdingyour magicalweaponand facingeast,extend yourarm out straight in front of you. In this ritual you will use the full sweep of your arm to draw the pentagram in the air. Follow the desc- ription below by beginning at the lower left and sweeping your magical weapon up toward the right, etc. as shown. Do not bend your arm at the wrist or elbow. While you do this, visualize the lines and eventually the star as vibrant white, floating in the space before you. You are projecting energy to do this, and the result will be a gleaming 5-pointed star floating in the east; visualize this as vividly as you can. Now you will energize it further by piercing the center of it with your magical weapon and vibrating (speaking slowly in a slightly lower than normal pitch, remember) "Yod-He-Vau-He". ============================================= -- DESCRIPTION -- Approximate points on a round clock face -- 1. Begin at 7:30 position. 2. Point to 12 oclock position. 3. Point to 4:30 position. 4. Point to 10:30 position. 5. Point to 2:30 position. 1352 6. Return to 7:30 position.] ============================================= Thenturn slowlytothe nextcardinal pointinsequence, and as you do so, with your arm still extended in front of you, visualize a white line connecting around to the cardinal point. Trace a similar pentagram with the appropriate words and following the same procedure: South -- Adonai Tzaboath West -- Eh-Ei-He North -- Agla. Now complete the white line drawn back to the center of the eastern pentagram. Note that the cardinal points must be followed in a clock- wise order, and the pentagram must be drawn in the manner illustrated; to do otherwise would change the function of the ritual. The result of all this should be a large bright white pentagram visualized hanging in mid-air at each of the four directions, all tied together by a bright white line. You could now, for example, visualize the pentagrams moving out to the circumference of your home, thereby protecting all within. Thereisalsoa somewhatsimplifiedversion ofthisritual in which the pentagram is traced only once overhead and then is energized with one of the four names, such as "Eh-Ei-He". Oftentimes the simpli- 1353 fied version is sufficient, but naturally the effect of the full version is more complete. One ofthe primaryusesof thisritual istoward offpsychic attack -- that is, when another is (consciously or unconsciously) attempting to harm you, cause sickness, accidents, bad dreams, emo- tional upset, or to force you to do something against your will. Fortunately this doesn't happen very often. The world of the magician is fairly safe for the pure of heart. Psychic attack usually depends upon vulnerabilities. If you are not vulnerable you are safe. Thus unificaition with the true will is the greatest protection possible. And the use of the banishing ritual is never hurtful. You can even use it to hold off negative aspects of yourself. Otherformsofprotection sometimeshelpful(depending upon one's model) are recitation of the 'Lord's Prayer', the 23rd, and 91st Psalms. REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) What is a pentagram? 2) What is psychic healing? List the basic methods. 3) What is the banishing ritual? Why is it used? 1354 BOOK LIST Dion Fortune, Psychic Self-Defense. ________, Sane Occultism. Adeliade Gardner, Vital Magnetic Healing. Max Heindel, The Vital Body. Ernest Holms, The Science of Mind. Mouni Sadhu, Theurgy. ======== Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem) P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042 1355 Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only. ---------------------------------------------------------- ** MAGICK 9 -- ASTRAL PROJECTION ** Astral projection (OOBE,out of thebody experience) isa popular area of occult literature; for traveling to see other worlds and places while the physical body sleeps or is entranced is an exciting notion. Astral projection is not dangerous. It is as safe as sleeping. Most dreams are probably unconscious astral projections, anyway. Although there has been quite a bit written on the subject, astral projection is dif- ficult for many people. The main difficulty is the tendency to forget dream consciousness upon awakening. Accordingly, the successful practice of astral projection requires work. Modernpsychologydiscounts theideaofactual OOBE(thatthe spirit temporarily vacates the physical body). However, the idea is very ancient. The Tibetans have an entire system of yoga (dream yoga) based upon astral projection. And here we have an important assump- tion: you are involved in an OOBE (at least to a degree) whenever you dream. What sets it apart from a full OOBE is your hazy consciousness 1356 during the experience and poor recall afterwards. Many people forget most of their dreams completely. Learning astral projection requires a kind of inner mental clarity and alertness. Dreamsare adoor to thesubconscious whichcan beused for psychological and spiritual insight, and sometimes for precognition. Dream content is influenced by external sounds and sensations. For example, a loud external noise (such as a train) will likely appear in your dream (if it doesn't wake you up!). Dreams are also influenced by events of the previous day, by your moods, and by suggestion. Every- one normally dreams 4 or 5 times a night (about every 2 hours). The longest dreams occur in the morning. Everyone dreams. You are more likely to remember the details of your dream when you first wake up. By keeping a dream diary you will improve dream recall. Have writing equipment or a tape recorder at your bedside for this purpose; also a light which isn't too bright. Suggest to yourself several times before you go to sleep, "I will awaken with the knowledge of a dream." Then when you do awaken, move quietly (sometimes just turning over drives the idea away). Remember first, then write the dream down, and then add as many details as possible. The next day check for objective facts and expand if you can (by remembering 'what happened before that'). Once you start remembering your dreams in this way, it will become easier to do so. (If you are unsuccessful at this, and *really* want to remember your dreams, you could arrange for 1357 someone to sit by your bedside all night long with a dim light on. Then when he sees your eyes moving back and forth -- rapid eye move- ments, a sign you are dreaming -- he can wake you and ask for a dream report.) FORMS OF ASTRAL PROJECTION Astralprojection maybesubdivided intothree basictypes: mental projection, astral projection (proper) and etheric projection. And your OOBE may shift between them. Mental projection is really simple clairvoyance ('remote viewing'), and 'traveling in your mind'. Imagination plays a key role. The experience of mental projection is not particularly vivid, and you will more likely be an observer than a participant. Nevertheless, mental projection is an important 'way in' to astral projection proper. Duringmentalprojectionandastralprojection youareableto travel through solid objects, but are not able to act directly upon them or to move them (if they are in the physical world). This is not true during etheric projection. Whether it is simply subconscious expectation, or whether it is a true etheric projection which in theory means that part of your physical body has been relocated with your projection (the etheric or vital part) may be difficult to determine. Etheric projections generally travel at or very near the 1358 physical world. There are even cases reported (very, very rare ones) in which the entire physical body is transferred to another location (teleportation), or cases in which the physical body exists and acts in two separate places at once (bilocation)! But ourprimary interestis astral projectionproper, and mental projection to a lesser extent. Astral and mental projection are not confined to the physical world. Travel in the mental and astral realms is feasible, and often preferred. Nor are astral and mental projection restricted to the realm of the earth (you could even go to the moon and planets). 1359 STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS The electricalactivity ofthe brainhas beenobserved and classified with EEG (electroencephalograph) equipment; signals picked up from the scalp by electrodes, then filtered and amplified, drive a graph recorder. Brain activity has been found to produce specific ranges for certain basic states of consciousness, as indicated in 'hz' (hertz, or cycles/vibrations per second): delta -- 0.2 to 3.5 hz (deep sleep, trance state), theta -- 3.5 to 7.5 hz (day dreaming, memory), alpha-- 7.5to 13 hz(tranquility, heightenedawareness, meditation), beta -- 13 to 28 hz (tension, 'normal' consciousness). As you can see, some form of physical relaxation is implied in the alpha, theta, and delta consciousness. These states are in fact reached through deep breathing, hypnosis, and other relaxation tech- niques. OOBE occurs during these states, and delta is probably the most important for it. The problem is really, as we have said, one of maintaining mental awareness and alertness while experienceing these altered states. Experimental subjects hooked to an EEG do not show a discrete change from drowsy to sleep; it is very gradual. 1360 Atthe thresholdbetweensleep andwakingconsciousness isa drowsy condition known as the hypnogogic state. OOBE seems to occur during this state, or a variant of it. By careful control of the hypnogogic state (not going beyond it) it is possible to enter OOBE directly. BASIC TECHNIQUES Mostmethodsofastralprojectionaremethodsofconditioning. Some form of trance or altered consciousness is always involved. No one ever projects consciously while fully awake (some may think that they do). Although there are many techniques used to produce an astral projection, they boil down to ten of them. They all sort of overlap. 1361 1) Diet-- Certain dietarypractices mayaid in OOBE,esp- ecially at first. These include fasting, vegitarianism, and in general the eating of 'light' foods as discussed in a a previous lesson. Carrots and raw eggs are thought to be especially beneficial, but all nuts are to be avoided. Over-eating should be avoided. And no food should be eaten just before an OOBE attempt. If you intend to practice during sleep, for example, allow 2 to 4 hours of no food or drink (except water) before bedtime. In general, we see here the same kind of dietary restrictions advocated for kundalini yoga. 2) Progressivemuscularrelaxation--This isoneofthebasic methods used in hypnosis and self-hypnosis. Physical relaxation can assist one in attaining the requisite trance state. These techniques involve beginning at the toes and tensing, then relaxing the muscles, progressively up the entire body. 3)Yogaand breath-- Yoga,mantra, andbreathing exercises similarly aim at physical relaxation. The practice of kundalini yoga is particularly relevant, since it is concerned with altered con- sciousness. In fact the arousal of kundalini requires a similar state of consciousness to OOBE. 1362 4)Visualization --This involvesa typeof extendedclair- voyance or picturing of remote surroundings. If you can experience the feeling of being there, so much the better. Although this technique is essentially mental projection, it is possible to deepen mental projection into astral projection through (you guessed it!) visualization. Crowley taught a similar technique: a) visualize a closed door on a blank wall, b) imagine a meditation symbol on the door, c) visualize the door opening and yourself entering through it. And J.H. Brennan describes similar techniques wherein the door is shaped and colored like a tattva, or alternately, a chosen tarrot card is visualized and the student visualizes entering into it. 5) Guided imagery -- Inmany respects similar tovisual- ization. Except in this case, there is a guide (or perhaps a voice on tape) directing you by means of descriptions. As with visualization, mental rather than astral projection is most likely. 1363 6)Body ofLight --The oldGolden Dawntechnique. Imaginea duplicate (mirror image) of yourself in front of you. Then transfer your consciousness and sensation to the duplicate ('body of light'). 7) Strongwilling -- Sort oflike creative visualization experienced in the present. That is you express your strong desire to project through your willpower while you visualize yourself doing it. 8) The Monroetechniques -- These are a series of steps developed by Robert Monroe: a) relax the body, b) enter the hypnogogic state, c) deepen the state, d) develope the senstation of 'vibration', e) separate from the body. The Monroe Institute has developed some cassete tapes which are claimed to help in this. 9) Dreamcontrol --This isone ofthe mostimportant tech- niques. It involves becoming aware that you are dreaming. There are several ways to do this. Oliver Fox says to look for descrepancies in the dream to realize you are dreaming. One occult student I know of visualized a white horse which he could ride wherever he wished to go. After a time, when the horse appeared in his dreams it was his cue that he was actually dreaming/projecting. Don Juan tells Castaneda to look at his hands while he is dreaming. And even the tarot and Cabala may be used as dream signals. 1364 Another method is to tell yourself each night as you go to sleep, "I can fly"; then when you do, you will know you are dreaming. Once you know you are dreaming you can control your dream/OOBE and go anywhere you want. Repetitive activities will also likely influence your dreams. For example, if you are on an automobile trip and spend most of the day driving, you will probably dream about driving. You can condition yourself to be aware you are dreaming by doing a repetitive activity many times (walking across the room or a particular magick ritual, for example). Then when you dream about it, you will know you are dreaming. 10)Dream expansion--Avariation ondream control.A dream may be *extended* by imagining it continuing from where it was when you awaken. Then it is just a simple step to 'astral project' by directing you 'dream'. Althoughallthesetechniques mayappearstraightforward,they all require effort. Astral projection is generally learned. The astral worldis the "ghostland"into which onepasses after death. It is sometimes possible to visit with the dead, or you might be called upon to reassure and assist those who have just passed over (died) or those who are consciously projecting for the first time. Many spirits, 1365 elementals and ghosts exist in the astral world. The magician should feel comfortable there. Tibetan belief is that through proficiency in OOBE, you no longer need reincarnate after death. The astral world is extremely changeable and subject to your thoughts. Your will can control your movements in the astral world, and if you seem to be going somewhere non-volitionally ('astral current') it is probably your true will causing it anyway. You might also experience heightened magical ability while in the astral realm. [This is a popular subject, and there may be other files online about it. Check the MIND file area for OOBE.ARC. This file includes the following articles -- MIAS.DOC. MONROE.DOC. OBEBOOK.AST OOBE.THR. TN.TXT.] 1366 REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) What is the relationship between astral projection and dreams. 2) What is mental projection? 3) List the ten basic methods of astral projection. BOOK LIST H.P. Battersby, Man Outside Himself. Susan J. Blackmore, Beyond the Body. J.H. Brennan, Astral Doorways. Robert Crookall, The Techniques of Astral Projection. Denning and Phillips, The Llewellyn Practical Guide to Astral Projection. Oliver Fox, Astral Projection. Gavin & Yvonne Frost, Astral Travel. Celia Green, Out-of-the-body Experiences. Richard A. Greene, The Handbook of Astral Projection. Herbert Greenhouse, The Astral Journey. Jack London, Star Rover (historical occult novel). Janet Mitchell, Out of Body Experiences. Robert Monroe, Journeys Out of the Body. Robert E. Moser, Mental and Astral Projection. 1367 Muldoon and Carrington, The Projection of the Astral Body. Ophiel, The Art and Practice of Astral Projection. A.E. Powell, The Astral Body. D. Scott Rogo, Leaving the Body. J.M. Shay, Out of the Body Consciousness. Susy Smith, The Enigma of Out-of-the-body Travel. Brad Steiger, The Mind Travelers. Yram, Practical Astral Projection. ======== Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem) 1368 Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only. ----------------------------------------------------------- ** MAGICK 10 -- CABALA ** Western magick isbased uponthe Cabala,a Jewishmystical traditon first written down in 12th and 13th century southern France and Spain. It was oral before that; and it contains the "lost" knowledge of the ancients, possibly going back to Egypt and before. The most important Cabalistic books are SEPHIR YETZIRAH (The Book of Creation), and the ZOHAR (Book of Splendor). Through Cabalistic philosophy we are able to classify and "pigeon-hole" all of existence. The fourworlds are recognizedin theCabala, but theyare given Hebrew names. Thus -- Assiah, physical; Yetzirah, astral; Briah, mental; and Atziluth, spiritual; as shown in the chart. WORLD NAME MEANING ATTRIBUTE ===== ==== ======= ========= spiritual Atziluth Archetypal World pure deity mental Briah Creative World archangels 1369 astral Yetzirah Formative World angels physical Assiah Material World action The divine name of God is TETRAGRAMMATON (or name of four letters) made from the Hebrew letters YOD HE VAU HE (English YHVH). Of the four letters, YOD corresponds with Atziluth and the element of fire; the first HE corresponds with Briah and water. These first two letters make up a yang-yin pair (respectively). The other two letters also form a yang-yin pair (respectively), with the VAU corresponding with Yetzirah and air; while the second HE corresponds with Assiah and the element of earth. TheCabalistic partsofthe souluse newnames forthe three highest vehicles of consciousness. NESHAMAH (Divine Soul) is the Spiritual body; RUAH (Moral Soul) is the Mental body; and NEFESH (Animal Soul) is the Astral body. 1370 An importantattributeoftheCabala istheSEFIROTICTREE(or "Tree of Life", Otz Chieem). The Sefirotic Tree is a diagram of the universe made up of the ten SEFIROTH (primal numbers or orders of creation) drawn as circles upon the Tree in a decending pattern from the highest aspect of God at the top to the most physical aspect of our world at the bottom. As can be seen in the accompanying diagram, the sefiroth are connected together with numbered lines, called paths. / (1)\ / | \ / | \ (3) /----------|---------\ (2) | | | 1371 | | | | | | (5)\-----------|---------/ (4) | \ | / | | \ | / | | \ (6)/ | | / | \ | | / | \ | | / | \ | (8)/-----------|--------\ (7) \ | / \ | / \ | / \(9)/ | | (10) This is my attempt to draw a Sefirotic Tree using ASCII characters. Several paths are omitted (15, 17, 29, 31). Please refer to a printed diagram (in most any book on Cabala) for a better illustration. ---------------------------------------------------------- 1372 Above theTree is theinfinite void-- the unknowable,un- manifest God as Divine Light -- the three veils of negative existence: Ain, Ain Sof, and Ain Sof Aur. The Divine Light (Ain Sof Aur) is made manifest by the first sefira where it is transformed into positive existence. Emanations of energy (magical current) flow from the first sefira (Source) along the paths into other sefiroth which transform and emanate to lower and lower sefiroth. In Adam Kadman (primal or ideal man) the sefiroth fit upon the physical body; note the similarity to the chakras. The process of creation is one of emanation from the spiritual at the top of the Tree to the physical world (Sink) at the bottom. All current which is Sourced into the Tree must also be Sinked (earthed). That is, magical energy set in motion by ritual shoud be used up in the physical world whether or not the ritual was a success. Sefiroth1, 2,and 3on theTree form theSupernal Triangle which is beyond normal human experience in the world of Atziluth. The first sefira, KETHER, is the supreme *crown* of God; it signifies pure Being, and is the Source. Kether is androgynous. Immediately arising from Kether are two further emanations. The second sefira is HOKMAH, the *wisdom* of God and the masculine force of the universe. Third is BINAH, the *understanding* or intelligence of God; this is the supernal mother. 1373 Between theSupernals and theother seven sefirothis the Abyss -- a great gulf which forever separates ideal from actual. Within the Abyss an 11th sefira, DAATH, the *knowledge* of God is sometimes placed. The second triangle, comprised of the 4th,5th, and 6th sefiroth in the world of Briah, is sometimes called the Mental Tri- angle. Sefira 4, HESED, the *love* or mercy of God, is male and positive. The 5th sefira, GEVURAH, the power or *strength* of God complements Hesed as justice. Sixth is TIFARETH, as the compassion or *beauty* of God; the heart of the universe. 1374 Thethird orAstralTriangle containssefiroth7, 8,and 9in Yetzirah. Sefira 7, NETSAH, is the lasting endurance or *victory* of God. Complementing Netsah is 8, HOD, the majesty or *splendor* of God. The 9th sefira, YESOD, the *foundation* of the world, is linked with the moon, hence the tides and the libido. Yesod is experienced as dream consciousness, and is very important in magick and astral projection. Finally,at thephysicalworld ofAssiah isthe10th sefira, MALKUTH, the *kindgom* of God, and the basis of all material creation. We experience Malkuth as sense consciousness. TheSefirotic Treehasthree verticalcolumns or*pillars*. As you face the tree, the pillar on the right, headed by Hokmah and ending with Netsah, is called the Pillar of Mercy and has light/mascu- line (yang) qualities. The pillar on the left, headed by Binah and ending with Hod, is the Pillar of Severity with dark/feminine (yin) qualities. The Middle Pillar between them equilibriates the two opposites, and is the *Shekhinah*, or feminine counterpart of God. The *klippoth*, or evil demons, generally in Assiah, represent un- balanced forces or excesses. 1375 Allthe attributesoftheuniverse fitlikepiecesof apuzzle upon the Sefirotic Tree. Each numbered part is a numeric key to the various correspondence tables, such as Crowley's '777'. The sefirotic tree has its parts variously colored and each sefira has a color; in fact the paths which run between the sefiroth have their own colors too. There are four major color scales for the sefirotic tree and each color scale corresponds with one of the four worlds. That means we are dealing with not just one sefirotic tree, but actually with a separate tree for each of the four worlds; although it is easier to think of it as the same tree with a different color scale. The Queen (Briah) and King (Atziluth) scales are the most important. There is also the Empress scale (Assiah), and the Emperor scale (Yetzirah). 1376 TheQueen andKing scalesfor thesefiroth areshown below. (Note that when 4 colors are listed toghether, the sefira is divided into quarters and the first color is assigned to the upper quarter, the 2nd color to the right quarter, the 3rd color to the left quarter, and the last color to the lower quarter.) KEY QUEEN SCALE KING SCALE === =========== ========== 1 pure white brilliance brilliance 2 gray pure soft blue 3 black crimson 4 blue deep violet 5 scarlet red orange 6 yellow (gold) clear pink rose 7 emerald green amber 8 orange violet purple 9 violet indigo 10 citrine, olive, russet, yellow and black The 22 paths connectthe sefiroth together. These paths correspond with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, as based upon the SEFIR YETZIRAH. Due to the nature of the Hebrew alphabet (some 1377 letters can take two forms) SEFIR YETZIRAH divides each of two of the letters into two (dual) parts. For this reason, it is necessary to divide each of the two related paths into two (dual) parts. These are numbered 31, 31b (bisected); 32, 32b. Yet when these paths are drawn on the sefirotic tree they are usually shown undivided (and numbered simply 31, and 32). The following table shows the colors and location of the paths in relation to the sefiroth. You will want to add the path numbers to the illustration of the sefirotic tree, or draw a new tree. Some writers may refer to "32 paths", by calling the sefiroth "paths" 1-10. 1378 KEY JOINS SEFIROTH QUEEN SCALE KING SCALE === ============== =========== ========== 11 1 - 2 sky blue brt. pale yellow 12 1 - 3 purple yellow 13 1 - 6 silver blue 14 2 - 3 sky blue emerald green 15 2 - 6 red scarlet 16 2 - 4 deep indigo red orange 17 3 - 6 pale mauve orange 18 3 - 5 maroon amber 19 4 - 5 deep purple greenish yellow 20 4 - 6 slate gray yellowish green 21 4 - 7 blue violet 22 5 - 6 blue emerald green 23 5 - 8 sea green deep blue 24 6 - 7 dull brown green blue 25 6 - 9 yellow blue 26 6 - 8 black indigo 27 7 - 8 red scarlet 28 7 - 9 sky blue violet 29 7 - 10 buff, flecked crimson (ultra- silver-white violet) 30 8 - 9 gold yellow orange 31 8 - 10 vermilion glowing orange- 1379 scarlet 32 9 - 10 black indigo 31b deep purple, white merging nearly black into gray 32b amber citrine, olive, russet, black Thequeenand kingscalesarecomplementary. Alsocomplemen- tary are the paths and the sefiroth. Traditional use of the queen scale sefiroth will find the king scale as paths and vice versa. The use of complementary scales is based upon the idea of balance. A tree composed of sefiroth in the queen scale and paths in the king scale is all you need for most magick. Although correspondences are what work for you, there is said to be an ancient tradition surrounding the conventional color scales and it may be helpful to lock into the energy associated with them. 1380 From themagical pointof view,the Treeof Lifeis a mapof consciousness which is useful for understanding and attaining various states of consciousness. In cabalistic magick we are concerned with the linking of higher energy to lower levels on the tree. That very thing takes place naturally as well, in nature and in life. A subject in itself is cabalistic meditation (pathwork, or the way of return), in which we attempt to climb up the tree (ladder of lights) to attain union with divinity. REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) What is the sefirotic tree? 2) How is the queen scale used in magick? 3) What is a path? How many are there? 1381 BOOK LIST J. Abelson, Jewish Mysticism Edward Albertson, Understanding the Kabbalah Bernard J. Babmerger, Fallen Angels Richard Cavendish, The Black Arts ______, editorial comments to "Cabala", Man Myth and Magic Aleister Crowley, The Book of Thoth ______, 777 Revised Denning and Phillips, The Magical Philosophy ______, Magical States of Consciousness (on pathworking) A.D. Duncan, The Christ, Psychotherapy and Magic Dion Fortune, The Mystical Qabalah Adolphe Frank, The Kabbalah: The Religious Philosophy of the Hebrews Perle Epstein, Kabbalah, the Way of the Jewish Mystic William Gray, The Talking Tree Stephan A. Hoeller, The Royal Road Isidor Kalish, Sepher Yezirah: A Book on Creation Alta J. LaDage, Occult Psychology Bernhard Pick, The Cabala: Its Influence on Judaism and Christianity Charles Ponce, Kabbalah: An Introduction and Illumination for the World Today Henry B. Pullen-Burry, Qabalism 1382 Israel Regardie, A Garden of Pomegranets ______, The Golden Dawn ______, The Middle Pillar Leo Schaya, The Universal Meaning of the Kabbalah Gershom Scholem, Kabbalah ______, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism ______, On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism ______, Zohar: The Book of Splendor Arthur Edward Waite, The Holy Kabbalah R.J. Zwi Werblowsky, "Cabala", Man, Myth and Magic William Wynn Wescott, An Introduction to the Study of the Kabalah ______, Sepher Yetzirah ======== Phil Hansford, 4/88 MYSTERIA (818) 353-8891 (modem) P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042 1383 Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only. ---------------------------------------------------------- ** MAGICK 11 -- PSYCHIC ENERGY ** We have seen in the theories of magick, that there isa definite relationship between the 'inner' and 'outer' worlds. We saw this in the theory of the microcosm and the macrocosm; in the four worlds; in the theory of correspondences; and also in the Cabala and Tree of Life. This relationship between inner and outer is very important. And it means quite simply that success (or lack of it) in one world (inner or outer) influences success (or lack of it) in the other. Therefore developing of magical ability is more than meditation and magical practice, for it implies mastery of the four worlds. The developed magician is not only master of the inner worlds; he is also master of himself. Thisis notto implythat successfulmagicians areall mil- lionaires (or whatever standard people measure success by), but it should mean that they are basically pleasant people, at least; no serious hangups. The developed magician is described as a 'king' in the Book of the Law. This means simply that he has full control over 1384 all aspects of his physical and inner life. He should be who he wants to be, doing what he wants to do. PLANETARY CORRESPONDENCES The*numbers* in thetables and diagramof the preceeding lesson on Cabala are the 'key' numbers which we find in various *correspondence tables* (such as Crowley's '777'). One important set of correspondences for the planets, is shown below... KEY PLANET METAL ATTRIBUTE === ====== ===== ========= 3 Saturn lead home 4 Jupiter tin luck, wealth 5 Mars iron anger, war-like 6 Sun gold vitality 7 Venus copper love 8 Mercury mercury knowledge 9 Moon silver emotions, travel 1385 Notice that we have included the metal which is associated with the planet, as well as common attributes of each planet. The theory of Cabalistic magick is to select the appropriate planet for the desired result. The attribute column will assist in that selection. Once a particular planet is determined, an entity is selected from the correspondence tables by matching the key number. A set of correspon- dence tables may be available on this board as a separate file (777.A- RC). Additionally, a list of selected deities from several popular pantheons and with a brief description about them may be available on this board as GODS.LST. AlthoughHebrewMysticismistheoriginalsourceofCabalistic ideas, it is mostly unconcerned with the magical implications of those ideas. How can a religious philosophy which is monotheistic lend credibility to a polytheistic approach? Various deities are understood as *aspects* or *qualities* of the Supreme God. This is not a con- tradiction, merely a restatement of the microcosm-macrocosm idea once again. The Sefirotic Tree, in its representation of the universe is the Macrocosm. While it could be said that any single sefiroth has its own separate qualities, it remains, nonetheless, a part of the whole tree, and a part of the macrocosm. As a result, virtually any pantheon or belief system is compatible with the Cabala. 1386 WILLPOWER AND MAGICK Western magick has traditionallyplaced a great deal of emphasis upon the use of willpower as a means of development and self-mastery. But this may not be the best method in the long run. Isaac Bonewitz describes how the subconscious will sometimes rebel against willpower with 'spectacular results'. It is far better to run one's life democratically. HawaiianKahunamagick describesthe'threeselves', ie.the lower self (or subconscious), the middle self (or normal conscious- ness), and the high self (spirit or Holy Guardian Angel). Enlighten- ment in the Hawaiian system consists of unification of the three selves. They become 'buddies'. Enlightenment does not come from great change. It comes from great acceptance. Continual effort at becoming better takes you nowhere. For becoming it is not being it. The unification is achieved by first developing communication with the subconscious and later with the high self also. Simple exercises with a pendulum, automatic writing, raised finger responses, self hypnosis, recording and analysis of dreams etc. facilitate communication with the subconscious. At first communication with the high self must be via the subconscious, but later it is possible to go direct to it. 1387 PSYCHIC ENERGY Manyoccult groupsfollowan energymodel formagickand the physical body. This model (or theory) equates psychic energy with kundalini/prana/sexual or life force energy. The ideal of kundalini yoga is thus to raise the kundalini to the higher chakras (especially ajna and sahasrara) thereby enhancing psychic/magick powers. The release of psychic energy is also relevant to mental control, good health and longevity, and the attainment of 'cosmic consciousness'. Meditation and yoga is used to liberate psychic energy so that it can be used for magical purposes. But there are other ways to liberate psychic energy. Many of these techniques will act as a mental catharsis in the sense of invigorating the psyche and resulting in improved intellectual and physical performance. 1) Psychotherapyof certain types whichreleases pent up psychological energy. 2)Overcoming mindgames,hangups, andinhibitions. Thisis the basis of all listed practices, as hangups waste psychic energy. Certain psychotropic drugs may have this affect. Also the 'kicks' from 'risks' like skydiving. 1388 3) Vigorousdance and physicalexercise --to the pointof 'second wind'. 4) 'Desirelessness' and various religious practices. 5) The way of return, and various other mystical practices. 6)Atavistic resurgence.Thislast itemdeserves someextra mention. It was one of Austin Spare's methods. It means to contact the primitive emotions deep within the psyche. In a sense it is regressive. However, there is power there, if you are able to control it. 1389 Wehave seenhowmagical theoryis baseduponthe assumption that psychic phenomena is real. If this is so, then magick is also real. And we have also seen how magick is the art and science of causing change in accordance with the will by non-physical means. Magical philosophy is the working system of terms, theories, and symbols upon which magick is based. But magick goes further than that, for as an ancient system of psychology, magick may be used as is a means of self improvement and spiritual growth. For magick and mysticism are parallel paths, each ultimately leading to transcendence. REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) What do we mean by the relationship between the inner and outer worlds? 2) What is wrong with willpower? 3) Explain the energy model of magick. 1390 BOOK LIST P.E.I. Bonewitz, Hawaiian Magic (tape). Pete Carrol, Liber Null. ------, Psychonaut. John Heriot, Teaching Yourself White Magic. Allan P. Lewis, Clearing Your Lifepath. Max Freedom Long, The Secret Science Behind Miracles. ------, The Secret Science At Work. Stephen Mace, Stealing the Fire from Heaven. Julian Wilde, Grimoire of Chaos Magick. ======== Phil Hansford, 4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem) P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA 91042 1391 Practical Applications of the Chaossphere by Fra.: Neonfaust The Chaossphere is the prime working tool of Chaos magicians and the Magical Pact of the Illuminates of Thanateros (IOT). The physical Chaossphere has a vast range of applications of which a few shall be briefly delineated here: Meditation employing the Chaossphere: 1, The Chaossphere is a symbol of the primeval Big Bang, it maybe considered as a "frozen explosion" or even as "frozen information". Regard the Chaossphere in a relaxed state, using the 180* stare if you prefer. After a while shut your eyes and meditate on the creative powers of Chaos. Chaos is not disorder let alone entropy but rather the sum total of all possibillities incumbent in existence and the unmanifest as a whole. In this manner you will open the doors to the magickal multiversum for yourself. 2, Proceed as described above simultaneously meditating on Nietzsches Zarathustra admonition: "I say unto you: a man must have chaos yet within him to be able to give birth to a dancing star. I say unto you: ye have chaos yet within you." You can have this statement read aloud to you by a partner or friend during your meditation (or use a cassette recording). Experience shows that this will greatly enhance the effect described above under item number 1. 1392 Sigil charging employing the Chaossphere: In lieu of other charging techniques you can project the magickal sigil activation into the Chaossphere; banishing (preferably by laughter) should follow immediately. Afterwards aim to forget the whole magickal operation as thoroughly as possible to avoid interference with the sigil`s operation by the unwanted rise of consciousness of said operation/sigil and resultant inhibiting psychic censor activity. Drawing energy employing the Chaossphere: To be performed preferably after a meditation with the Chaos- sphere (see above); regard the Chaossphere in a very intensive manner for a while and stretch your palms in its direction. Now close your eyes fully or halfway and suck in the powers of Chaos through your palms while inhaling; exhaling, distribute the energies all over your body or store them in the Hara centre (appr. three fingers` width below the navel). You will probably experience these energies as a warm or cool current, possibly as a slightly tingling sensation. Telepathy employing the Chaossphere: During a partner experiment participants concentrate on the Chaossphere (can also be performed with different participants working on different locations); observe in a very relaxed state messages, information and/or images rising from the unconscious. Advanced magicians will find that this experiment can be performed successfully via great distances even without participants practising simultaneously. For Chaos (= pure information) is not restricted by space and time. 1393 Astral projection and lucid dreaming employing the Chaossphere: 1, Using the 180* stare regard the Chaossphere until you ex- perience a strong suction emerging from the sphere and pulling at your "psychic entrails". This can frequently even be felt as a strong physical sensation. Give way to this suction and let your astral body emerge gradually. In the beginning this should be practised partially, ie. the astral body portion extracted increasing with every subsequent attempt. Thus, you may for example only project half an arm the first time, the full at the next go etc. Finally the astral body should emerge totally. Be aware that astral projection may demand weeks` or months` dedicated practice to succeed, depending on personal talent and inhibitions. Incidentally, the same technique may be used to extract the magickal doppelganger, personal daemons etc. 2, Immediately before dropping off to sleep visualize the Chaossphere as accurately as possible and continue as described above. This will induce either stronger astral projection or lucid dreaming or both. This has proved to be an extremely powerful exercise, but it is strongly suggested that you attempt it only after having acquired a thorough working knowledge with the variaant described above under item 1. (If you start off with mental working chances are that you will very soon become severely sloppy without even being aware of the fact; this may in turn inhibit control of magickal powers and could lead to obsession.) You may also want to wake yourself up at 4 a.m. and give this exercise a try for a few minutes before dropping off to sleep again. Take care to note your dreams next thing in the morning, do not - repeat: DO NOT! - rely on your memory alone. 1394 Activating psychogones/chaoservitors employing the Chaossphere: Use the Chaossphere as a "base camp" and "home" for psychogones/- chaoservitors and/or as a form of "launching pad". In case of the former the Chaossphere presents itself as a high class power recep- tacle and storage battery from which you can extract your psycho- gones/chaoservitors into the Chaossphere as you would with sigils to be activated; thus, the Chaossphere will become a gate to the Sphere of Chaos for your magickal entities in which (and from which) they will become active in accord with your bidding. Charging magical objects employing Chaossphere: Magical objects such as talismans, amulets, fetishes etc. can be charged with the aid of the Chaossphere by fastening them to the sphere or its tip during a ritual, placing them under it etc. while directing the energies of Chaos into the objects in question. Combat magic training employing the Chaossphere: During combat magical training the Chaossphere is particularly suited as a power storage battery out of which the magician draws Magis or Mana. It is furthermore used as a combat target while practising the kiai or other battle cries and martial arts Chi techniques. In the same manner, magickal energy bolts, curses, words of powers and strong affections are hurled emphatically into the Chaossphere where they may be stored for further use. 1395 Charging the Chaossphere: Experience has shown that the Chaossphere does not demand a special charging by ritual etc. Rather, the charging takes place alone by its practical application. Should you desire to incorporate magickal "condensator" fluids or solids (eg. as used for charging magickal mirrors) this can easily be achieved by unscrewing the tips and replacing them after filling in the condensator. 1396 THE PACT (IOT) - The Story So Far by Pete Carroll In 1976 in an abandoned ammunition dump dug deep into a mountain somewhere in the Rhineland, two magicians, one English, one German announced the formation of a magical order with the celebration of a Mass of Chaos in the company of a couple of dozen other magicians. Soon after we emerged from the bowels of the mountain a localized tornado hit immediate area. This was but a small portent of things to come. We left the mountain with no particular idea other than to form an Order such as had never existed before, that would break the existing mold and provide a vehicle for Chaos Magic. A year later some of us met in a splendid Austrian castle and formally arranged ourselves into the Magical Pact of the Illuminates of Thanateros, using as a basis a simple structure of four grades and five offices that I had devised in the meantime. Since then the Pact has evoked a veritable whirlwind of activity, and at the time of writing counts some sixteen temples in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia and the USA. A meeting for all members is now held annually, usually at the same original castle (Burg Lockenhaus, Austria, 2.-6.August 1991 followed by an Exercitium open for all). It is always a wild experimental gathering during which plenty of hard work is being done. In devising a structure I sought mainly to avoid the mistakes of previous established orders such as the Golden Dawn and the Ordo Templi Orientis. A certain division of labour is essential just to ensure that people take responsibility for organizing that which needs organizing. Beyond that it seems an absurdity to form an order on the basis of one or a few persons 1397 adopting the role of great guru almighty. Their bluff must eventually be called, and such organisations are unlikely to advance beyond whatever set of ideas they start with. Crowley had to break with the Golden Dawn to make his own contribution to magic, and Austin Spare had to break with Crowley in his turn. Such progress through schism is an idiotic waste of time and effort. Any contemporary order which wishes to remain alive, exciting and innovative requires a structure or at least a communication network to exist at all, but dogmatic ideas, rigid hierarchies and fixed teachings and beliefs will kill its creative spirit rapidly. Thus in the Pact, the individual temples, which are its basic unit, experiment with whatever techniques, rituals and ideas they please, and exchange results and inspirations through newsletters, magazines, a computerized electronic mailbox system, inter-temple visits and the annual Pact meeting. There is thus a natural selection of ideas. Techniques, Spells and Rituals which are found to be really useful become used and expanded upon whilst the less effective material is forgotten. Those members who enter the Pact bubbling over with ideas are encouraged to put them into use immediately. Naturally in an organisation such as this there is less emphasis on discipline than on enthusiasm and creativity. The Pact is more interested in those who can experience magic as a living thing, than in those who can merely follow instructions. Indeed the only power the Pact reserves over its members is the right of expulsion for extreme non-fraternal behaviour or for bringing the Pact into danger. The Pact has but two aims. Firstly the pursuit of the Great Work of Magic and pleasures and profits attendant to this Quest. Secondly to act as a Psychohistoric Force in the Battle for the Aeon. To fulfill the first aim we provide communication facilities that enable us to work together and develop our own magics through 1398 the exchange of ideas and information. Esoterics should also be fun. If you don`t enjoy doing magic you are probably doing something wrong. The profits are entirely whatever rewards individuals can make from their own magic. There are no membership fees and the annual Pact meeting is free and funded by seminars and exercitiums that some members hold for the general public plus any members who wish to attend. The somewhat grandiosely phrased Psychohistoric action in the Battle for the Aeon, consists mainly in spreading the philosophy of magical paradigm where we can, in print and by word of mouth, although we occasionally perform acts of magic to hasten things along. The magical techniques and philosophy of the Pact are mainly Chaoist in inspiration. Chaos Magic calls for a concentration of the actual mechanics at work when planning acts of evocation, divination, enchantment, invocation and illumination. It is techniques and intention that are important in successful magic. The most Important Techniques are those which adjust subconscious belief. Subconscious belief controls both the self or selves and the world. So long as this is never forgotten one can structure a ritual or spell with just about any form of symbolism from Tibetan Tantra to Icelandic Runelore. And indeed, where else but in the Pact could you find magicians experimenting with Runic Sex Magic? Well perhaps you will find other examples. I notice the eclectic approach becoming ever more pervasive in esoterics. Insights and ideas are now poached shamelessly from one so-called tradition to another, but this is how it should be, and Chaos Magic boldly encourages the meta-tradition which takes anything and everything that is effective from all traditions to create an explosive mixture. 1399 So, on with the pursuit of the Great Work of Magic, with whatever forms of Techno-Shamanism, Tantric Goetia or Greco-Egyptian Quantum Physics we can make work for us. There are worlds within us, and the universe is infinitely more weird, I`m sure, than all our theories put together. Hopefully, some of the explosives the Pact cooks up can propel us a little further into these strange domains. I have no idea how this years Pact meeting will unfold, except that there will be magicians from many lands seated in a huge circle ready to offer their specialities in everything from Buddhist sorcery through Norse wyrdcraft and Chaos mathematical investment schemes to Voodoo and Ice Magics. We have the technology and we`re crazy enough to use it! The Pact may be contacted in the US care of: Temple Oblivion, P.O.Box 18514, Encino CA 91416-8514 1400