"Before one can become a magician he must learn to control his own mind; for mind is the substance with which the magician acts, and the power to control it is the beginning of magic."
-- Franz Hartmann, Magic White and Black, pg. 222
Everything is connected. Everything is a part of the whole. Anything you do has an effect, however slight, upon the entire universe. The mind and body are connected. That is why the mind affects the body and the body affects the mind. This is expressed in the Hermetic axiom, "As above, so below." (Trismegistus.)
Most of the magick we see today comes to us from ancient Egypt and Chaldea. The Chinese, Hindus, and Tibetans developed their own unique types of magick. Western magick was locked up by the Egyptian priests for thousands of years and then supressed by the rise of Christianity. It was not until medieval Europe that magical knowledge was rediscovered by the alchemists and Cabalists. Only during the past hundred years or so has western culture been open minded enough to permit widespread investigation of the subject. Only since the start of the twentieth century has science shown much interest in it al all.
Some occultists feel a magician producing PK effects is simply a channel
for universal energy. Others think the energy originates some way directly
within the magician. (There are other anomalous phenomena besides, such
as UFO sightings, and ghost phenomena, that don't fit the above list very
well.)
*Magick is fun* and interesting. Use magick to help
raise consciousness without drugs. Gain new experiences.
Fantacy can come alive through magick. Psychic phenomena can
be controlled and be fun and helpful.
*Magick is beneficial*. It can help you to have
excellent health, and bring you good luck. With magick life
runs smoothly; life is good. Also use magick for personality
improvement, to control bad habits and to develop new
motivations.
*Magick is powerful*. Never underestimate the
tremendous power of magick. Use magick to alter events and to
achieve your goals. Exert an influence over people and
phenomena. But power for its own sake is self defeating. The
power which magick can give you should not be your primary
reason for studying it.
Alchemy also has much in common with magick. It's
heritage comes from the middle ages. Alchemy fathered
chemistry and the physical sciences. But the avowed purpose
of alchemy, turning lead into gold, is too limiting to be
called magick. Sometimes the goal of alchemy is interpreted
in another way, as the transformation of man into a spiritual
being.
Then there are the numerous modern day seers or
'pychics', as they like to be called, who operate within
their own somewhat unique systems. Although many of these
people are deluded frauds, some are very powerful occultists
indeed.
Of course, everything I have said here is a
generalization. Magick, witchcraft, alchemy, or any occult
field are complex subjects. Suffice it to say that magick
includes them all (it is eclectic). For magick is undoubtedly
a philosophy which has, as the late Aleister Crowley wrote,
"The method of science -- the aim of religion."
Sometimes fundamentalist Christians have told me the subject of magick is
condemed by the Bible, and that I am going to hell for practicing it.
Suffice it to say that I don't personally believe that magick and the occult
is morally wrong, or wrong in any other sense. The fact that one reads
about, or practices magick is not grounds to jump to the conclusion that
that person is evil. There may be ethical issues regarding how magick is
used, but that is true of most things. I'm not here to indoctrinate or convert. It is
simply my hope that this material will help widen perspectives. My
experience with magick, over many years, has in many ways been personal and
mystical. I hope the reader will respect this, and not try to convert me to
his particular type of religion.
Even in free parts of the world, acceptance by the local clergy, residents,
and law enforcement can be a problem. It is generally still not wise to
flaunt your beliefs and practices in some places.
The magick that I study and teach takes a psychological approach. This is
the approach used by most contemporary magick authors. Other approaches
we might have taken include anthropological, sociological, technological,
shamanistic, or religious.
1. Physical proof
Western science is based mainly on levels 1 and 2. Magick, psychic
phenomena, and religion are based mainly on levels 3 and 4.
Copyright (c) 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 1999, 1993, 1988, 1986, 1974 by
Phil Hansford. This article is licenced for free non-commercial
distribution only, unless sold by the author.
Please email comments and suggestions to:
1) Remote Viewing, or Clairvoyance -- the ability to
sense or 'see' (non-physically) distant objects, places, and
people. Individuals who see ghosts and spirits are probably
clairvoyant. The U.S. military has done extensive research
with remote viewing, using it to view stratigic targets in
other countries.
2) Clairaudience, or remote hearing -- the 'hearing'
of paranormal information.
3) Astral Projection, Out of Body Experience (OOBE),
or Traveling Clairvoyance. Experience at a remote location
while the physical body sleeps. Much more lucid than dreams.
4) Near Death Experience (NDE). Similar to Astral Projection,
but reported by some individuals who experienced clinical death, and
were brought back to life.
5) Psychometry -- the reading of information by the
touch of physical objects.
6) Telepathic receiver -- the ability to directly
receive thought (communication) at a distance, with no
physical connection to the sender. There are many everyday
examples of this, in which we think something just as another
person is about to say it. This is an easy one to test for
through experiment. Very dramatic cases of telepathy have
been recorded; there is often an emotional element in such
cases.
7) A 'channel' or medium, as in a seance, who is
aledged to be in direct communication with a 'spirit' or entity.
8) Experience with a Ouija board, pendulum, or
automatic writing.
9) Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) -- the recording
of non physical voices on a physical medium, such as tape.
10) Precognition, or premonition -- to forsee the future.
Again, highly emotional events are the ones most likely to be 'tuned
in'.
11) Retrocognition -- knowledge of the past, by
paranormal means.
Examples of PK
PK, the abreviation for psychokinesis, is the active
or sending side of psychic phenomena. The theory here is that
psi is sent out from the individual. Examples of PK include:
1) Telepathic sender -- the transmitter in the
telepathy just discussed.
2) Psychokinesis, or telekinesis -- the
ability to move objects by means of psychic energy.
3) Psychic Heat -- local heating or cooling temperature
effects through psychic energy.
4) Somewhat along the same lines are poltergeist
(noisy ghost) phenomena in which objects move of their own
accord or noises are heard. There is always a human agent
involved -- frequently a teenage girl -- who appears to be
the source of psychic energy.
5) Psychic healing -- the ability to heal various
illnesses and infirmities. There are many documented cases of
this. Usually it involves a healer and a subject, although
there are recent cases invloving cancer patients learning to
heal themselves.
6) Teleportation, apportation, and levitation.
7) Intention -- Affecting a talisman or other physical
object by means of meditation or concentration for a specific
purpose.
Magical Implications
Magick is powered by the psychic abilities just discussed. And, naturally,
one who is very gifted in psychic powers will be a much more effective
magician than one who is not gifted in this way. In the same way that
ESP utilizes passive psychic powers, and PK utilizes active psychic powers,
in magick we have passive magick (which corresponds with ESP), and active
magick (which corresponds with PK). Experimental evidence suggests that
an individual is usually much more effective at either ESP or PK (but not
both). And therefore, it may be concluded that a magician is more
likely to be most effective at either passive magick or active magick (but
not both). We will go into greater detail about the different types of
active and passive magick later on.
The Subconscious
Postulated by Freud and others, the concept of the
subconscious mind is an important one. Basicly, this is the
idea that part of the mind normally operates below or outside
of ordinary consciousness and awareness. Dreams and hypnosis
are examples of this. Also subconscious are the many
automatic functions of the physical body such as respiration
and digestion. Magick works by programing the subconsicous,
which activates the natural psychic abilities of the magician.
This is more effective than engaging the psychic abilities
directly.
Why Do Magick?
Magick encompasses many things -- science and art,
philosophy and metaphysics, psychology and comparative
religion. Magick is an adventure at the borderlands of the
unknown. It can fit the pieces of the puzzel of life into a
meaningful whole.
Magick and Witchcraft
A number of other occult disciplines are prevalent
today besides magick. There are many cults and sects which
profess their own views, but there are really few differences
between them. One popular area in the occult today is
witchcraft. This is far removed from the cliche of devil
worship. Real witchcraft is a nature religion (pagan).
Witchcraft has much in common with magick. There are few
hereditary witches today. Most wiccans have voluntarily
decided to practice the wiccan religion. Wicca combines
magick with religion and a system of ethics.
Religious Issues
Before going any further, I'd like to discuss religious issues briefly.
Many organized religions take a low view of magick and the occult. This
is true for conservative Christian and Islam especially. Far be it from
me to argue religion. People are entitled to believe what they want, as
long as they don't try to pressure me about my own beliefs. If you have
doubts about this, by all means go off to your religion and don't pursue
magick or the occult.
Health Issues
Some people may have the mistaken idea that the practice of magick
or psychic abilities has a negative effect upon the practitioner's health.
This is not true, and if you observe negative effects upon your personal
health from these practices, it may be from having false preconcieved
notions about them.
Legal Issues
Magick, witchcraft, and other occult practices are generally legal
(with a few exceptions) throughout the Western world (that wasn't
always the case in the past). However, this is not the case in
Moslem countries, where even possesion of occult paraphenalia and
literature (such as this course) may be illegal. Here in the West we
take our liberty for granted. Freedom to read, to discuss, to practice,
and to live. If you are in a less advanced/liberated part of the world,
you should exercise caution.
Limits and Expectations
That fact that it may be theoretically possible to use magick to bring
about world peace, or to avert catastrophy or death, is not to imply
responsibility, obligation, or guilt for not trying. Or if one tried
magick, psychic inflence, or prayer, and it didn't work, that does not
mean it is invalid. Some things are easy to achieve with magick, and
some things are not. Some things are in the natural order, and meant
to be.
What About So-Called Instant Magick?
Magical effects are usually subtle. They often look like coincidence,
the bending of chance, or simply good luck. But regardless of the magical
effect, it operates through the magician. And regardless of whether or not
intermediary entities or energies are involved, magick is a process which
requires a capable magician to perform it. There are no secret spells,
formulas, or entities which would grant instant power to an otherwise
incapable practictioner. The study and practice of magick includes the
learning of techniques, along with personal development of the magician.
White Magick and Black Magick
Essentially, white magick is good magick, and black magick is evil magick.
These are old terms, and some people may argue about it, but it really comes
down to ethics, and doing what you know is right. White magick is the safest
kind of magick, because it works for the overall good. Black magick is very
dangerous, because it can bounce back and cause personal harm to the person
who tries to use it. We'll go into greater detail on this topic later on.
Levels of Proof
There are four levels of experiencial proof. The first and most obvious
of these is physical proof. The levels of proof are listed below, as
decreasing levels of reliability.
2. Measured proof
3. Subjective proof (anecdotal)
4. Theoretical or speculative
The Great Adventure
Magick is a great adventure, for to really get into it, to really master it
and become a magical adept requires many years of study, and practice.
Sometimes it will be interesting and exciting. Sometimes it may seem rather
dull. Magick affects the magician on multiple aspects of his being. To
achieve maximum results (Maximum Magick) is a lifetime pursuit. There are
three stages in the study and practice of magick. 1. knowledge: the study
of theory and terms. 2. Practice: The training and practical application.
Much of this involves conditioning. 3. Observation: The observation of
results and of the universe, and of relationships and implications. These
stages may be done sequencially or at the same time in any combination.
However, for the practicing magician, they are a continuous process which
never ends.
Review Questions
1) Define magick.
2) Define ESP and PK. Give examples.
3) What is the subconsicous?
Counterpoint
1) Explore the evidence for psychic phenomena being genuine.
Book List
Hal N. Banks, An Introduction to Psychic Studies.
John Beloff, The Relentless Question Reflections on the Paranormal.
Annie Besant, Thought Power.
Michael H. Brown, PK, A Report on the Power of Psychokinesis.
Richard Cavendish, The Black Arts.
Alexandira David-Neel, Magic and Mystery in Tibet.
Migene Gonzalez-Wippler, The Complete Book of Spells, Ceremonies, and
Magic.
Franz Hartmann, Magic White and Black.
Pamela Rae Heath, The PK Zone.
Roger Heisler, Path to Power.
C. Roy Hunter, Master the Power of Self-Hypnosis.
Raynor C. Johnson, The Imprisoned Splendour.
Draja Mickaharic, Practice of Magic.
Janet Lee Mitchell, "Is Anything Out There?", Fate magazine,
May 1988.
Ostrander and Shroeder, Psychic Discoveries Behind the
Iron Curtan.
Dean Radin, Entangled Minds.
------, The Conscious Universe,
Robinson and Carlson-Finnerty, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being
Psychic.
Tiller, Dibble, and Kohane, Conscious Acts of Creation.
Phil Hansford, 5/2008
Mysteria
http://www.mysteria.com
Box 234
Sierra Madre, CA 91025 USA